Thread by @MichaelChongMP

1/ Thread.

Here's why the Prime Minister is wrong when he says the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians (NSICOP) is the right place to review the breaches of national security at the government's National Microbiology Laboratory in Winnipeg.

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2/ NSICOP was created by Bill C-22 in the 42nd Parliament.

Unlike the UK's Intelligence and Security Committee, it's not a committee of parliament, but a committee of parliamentarians. In fact, it's a committee of the executive branch and accountable to the PM.

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3/ Committee members are appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the Prime Minister, including the chair.

In other words, the PM can hire and fire NSICOP members at will - they work for him.

It's written right into the Act.

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4/ Furthermore, government ministers have the right to terminate the committee's reviews and have the right deny the committee information.

In addition, the PM has the power to review and demand revisions to reports before they are made public.

It's all in the Act.

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5/ NSICOP is accountable to the gov't - not the other way around.

When the gov't fails to uphold national security, it must be held accountable.

The gov't is accountable to the House of Commons. That's why these breaches must be investigated by the House, not NSICOP.

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