Mr. Speaker. Over the last few weeks, my constituents have been asking me why the Leader of the Opposition will not get a security clearance. That is a really legitimate question. I do want to give the Leader of the Opposition the benefit of the doubt, but he is just running out of excuses.
I thought I would look at what the national security experts are saying, because they are the best people to know what should happen in this case. Ward Elcock, who is a former CSIS director, made it really clear that having a chief of staff with clearance is just not enough. Similarly, Richard Fadden, another former CSIS director, also said that being a former privy councillor does not give someone access to classified information.
In order for us to protect the national security interests of the country and in order for the Leader of the Opposition to know what is happening in his own party, it is important that he get the clearance, take the briefing and protect the country. It is that simple.