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OTTAWA — The cornerstone of the Liberals’ promised national security reforms — parliamentary “oversight” of federal spy activities – would not allow lawmakers to scrutinize the most potentially troubling of those actions until after they’re completed, if at all.

The criticism is one of several expected to be voiced this week over Bill C-22, which will set up a committee of MPs and senators to monitor the country’s spooks.

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The panel — whose members will have to pass security checks — is intended to police the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) and 16 other federal entities with national security responsibilities, many of which now operate without independent scrutiny.

Its mandate also extends to examining the “legislative, regulatory, policy, administrative and financial framework for national security and intelligence.”

The Commons public safety committee begins public hearings on the bill Tuesday.