Information & Ethics committee  I just talked about impartiality. I did not deal with Bill C-13 as a Department of Justice lawyer. So there would be no conflict of interest in that regard. I don't see any other conflicts of interest that would prevent me from taking action. If a conflict of interest were to arise, I would withdraw from the file.

Information & Ethics committee  This is exactly where I was going.

Information & Ethics committee  Yes, and that there should be an independent review because I think Canadians want to know more about why police and security agencies require information. They want to hear this in order to have an informed debate as to the viability and need for this type of legislation. So I would encourage all information to be provided so that this information is out and that a less pluralized debate leading to legislation occurs.

Information & Ethics committee  No, I do not. I was going to follow by saying IP addresses are much more than telephone information because they do include information of interests in websites, for instance, or location. So when I asked the general questions before, transposing this to Bill C-13, I would say there has been no demonstration yet that I have heard that such a level of personal information in an IP address is required, particularly through volunteer disclosure without warrants.

Information & Ethics committee  I think I would go back to the issue that warrantless disclosure is a concern, particularly given the information that was made public a few weeks ago that this is occurring very frequently, so that is a cause of concern. I think on that bill I would agree in the end that there needs to be more transparency and I would agree with the Canadian Bar Association that the bills should be divided and that there should be an independent review of privacy interests in the context of electronic investigations.

Information & Ethics committee  On that particular point I think I would ask for assistance from the Office if I'm appointed. We're getting into a point of detail that I would not be comfortable talking about.

Information & Ethics committee  Yes. In my resume, I mention, among others, the privacy principles related to the Beyond the Border Accord with the United States. That accord involves some 30 individual agreements, most of which aim to share information with the United States under certain programs. We have known, since the Iacobucci and Major inquiries, that this kind of information sharing has to be regulated.

Information & Ethics committee  I will return you, again, to the end of my opening remarks. So I think these are—

Information & Ethics committee  I think they raise very legitimate concerns, yes.

Information & Ethics committee  I've answered generally, and I will now answer specifically since I understand that is what expected of me. I've raised the issues I would raise generally, so is the law necessary? Is it appropriate? Are there alternatives? With respect to Bill C-13, I would say, of course, that everyone would agree with the creation of the crime of cyber intimidation that is in that bill.

Information & Ethics committee  Thank you for your question, Mr. Angus. Since I'm still a public servant and this bill is presented by the Minister of Justice, I feel I'm in a bit of a sensitive position here. I think I will decline to answer questions about the bill, but I think you would have heard in the last portion of my opening remarks the kinds of questions I would ask if a bill were presented to Parliament, if and when I become Privacy Commissioner, and these questions would, I think, be relevant to the examination of the bill in question.

Information & Ethics committee  Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. Thank you, ladies and gentlemen members of the committee. I will try to be as brief as possible. I am very honoured to be here today as the person nominated by the Prime Minister for the position of Privacy Commissioner. My name has been put before you after a lengthy advertised process conducted by the government.