Mr. Speaker, I am a little concerned that by having this debate on CSEC and CSIS, we are increasing the level of concern among Canadians.
We have to remind members that the Communications Security Establishment Canada targets all of its activities for the protection of Canada. That is paramount to what we do here within Parliament: it is our first and foremost responsibility to protect Canada and Canadians.
The activities of CSEC cannot be targeted at Canadians, whether they are at home or overseas. The independent commissioner oversees CSEC to ensure that it meets the test and constantly asks questions of its activities to ensure that the laws of Canada and the rights of Canadians are protected. Those rights and laws are completely guaranteed under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. They are protected under the Privacy Act and the Criminal Code.
Why do we want a partisan place to provide an oversight committee when we already have an independent, non-partisan individual and the office of the commissioner doing that job now?