I'm really grateful to all of the witnesses who have answered my questions. This has been a really interesting conversation.
I want to thank Mr. Housefather for this subamendment.
I think what I've learned in this, and what I'm inclined to conclude, is this. If we get the rest of this bill right, then this subamendment would help law enforcement in a situation where something has been initiated—it's not a fishing expedition—and has come to law enforcement. They have some information where a legal threshold has been passed, where they believe that they are going to, in the old words, lay a charge, or they feel as if there is something here. They find themselves in a situation where they have enough information to know that and to pull together the kind of argument that will allow them to go before a judge.
At that point, the subamendment proposed by Mr. Housefather would help narrow, funnel or specify what kind of information is available off the menu. It isn't quite a complete menu, but at least it's a menu. Law enforcement can then go to the judge and be cognizant of the fact that if there is ever a trial in this case, the accused would invoke section 8 of the charter. They would be operating within the space they're familiar with in Canada—search and seizure, section 8 and privacy rights—and would be able to make a reasonable application to a judge, which would be successful, or not, sometimes.
The judge would have control over the process and evaluate whether the information provided or the information requested fits within this fairly well-developed section—now that this committee has done excellent work. Then that judge would make a decision, and that information would be taken forward into some of the other processes we'll talk about in other sections of the bill.
I'm particularly heartened to know this, and I think people watching this at home will be as well. When it comes to some of that broader work that CSIS does, the higher-level surveillance of our country in general, this isn't a section they can use to go too far, in the absence of a larger law enforcement file that relates probably to something bigger that would fit into organized crime, terrorism or the kinds of activities that CSIS does.
In the context of this particular subamendment, with the Privacy Commissioner's recommendations, the reassurances that came from the RCMP, the really good work and explanations provided by the counsel from the Department of Justice and the reassurance provided by CSIS, I want to thank everybody. This has been a really interesting discussion.
I will turn the floor back over to you, Mr. Chair.