Procedure and House Affairs committee  Thank you.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  Thank you, Mr. Chair. There's a lot of talk going on lately about foreign interference, and I think you think that's a good thing. As you said earlier, Canadians need to be aware. Whether it's your work, the Hogue commission or NSICOP, this issue is out front in public. Is it safe to say that part of the reason for it is the work that's ongoing and the elevated importance of that work over the last number of years, Mr.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  Knowledge is power, then. Knowledge is power. Having this information gives us and you and those responsible the power to be able to do something about it.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  Some of the information is public and can be discussed in public, but some can't. Some of the reports are classified for various different reasons, but some people can get access to those reports, obviously the Prime Minister, members of cabinet, the official leaders of each political party.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  That's what I was getting at. It's interesting. You made that comment at another committee, and this came up in a CTV exchange on June 9, just a couple of days ago. The interviewer said—they were talking about the leader of the Conservative Party—“just because your leader is briefed on this intelligence does not mean that he can't act,” which is what you've just said here.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  That doesn't speak to the timing.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  He's not going to [Inaudible—Editor]. Is that right?

Procedure and House Affairs committee  It is a point of order.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  Although Mr. Cooper is trying to amend the motion in order to talk about foreign interference, all he's really doing is he's attempting to amend the motion's timing. This doesn't give him carte blanche to start talking about foreign interference. He can talk about the timing of it.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  Are you done?

Procedure and House Affairs committee  I do. The way the previous chair did it was that she held on to the existing one and went to a new one. After we were done there, it went back to the other one. I think doing it that way also encourages people to stay on topic.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  I'll speak to the subamendment.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  Thank you. Thank you for the amendment. I think it's extremely germane. I think it lends itself well to the motion. As part of this study, I would really like to hear from the Sergeant-at-Arms, specifically because of the comments he's made and because of media reports lately that have involved the Sergeant-at-Arms: stuff that's going on at constituency offices and how MPs may or may not be harassing constituency employees by showing up at offices that don't belong to them.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  You just got elected, and you're already taking time off.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  In response to your question—