THE STANDING SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATIONAL SECURITY, DEFENCE AND VETERANS AFFAIRS

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

OTTAWA, Monday, November 18, 2024
(65)

[English]

The Standing Senate Committee on National Security, Defence and Veterans Affairs met this day at 4 p.m., in room C128, Senate of Canada Building, the chair, the Honourable Hassan Yussuff, presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Boehm, Cardozo, Carignan, P.C., Dagenais, Dasko, Deacon (Ontario), Kutcher, LaBoucane-Benson, McNair, Patterson, Richards and Yussuff (12).

Other senators present: The Honourable Senators Batters and Ross (2).

Participating in the meeting: Anne-Marie Therrien-Tremblay and Ariel Shapiro, analysts, Parliamentary Information and Research Services, Library of Parliament.

Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Wednesday, October 23, 2024, the committee continued its examination of Bill C-26, An Act respecting cyber security, amending the Telecommunications Act and making consequential amendments to other Acts.

WITNESSES:

Beauceron Security Inc.:

David Shipley, Chief Executive Officer and co-founder.

Bruce Power:

Todd Warnell, Chief Information Security Officer.

Privacy and Access Council of Canada:

Sharon Polsky, President.

Canadian Union of Public Employees:

Brian Leclerc, Interim Chairperson, Provincial Council of the Communications Sector;

Nathalie Blais, Research Representative.

Electricity Canada:

Francis Bradley, President and Chief Executive Officer.

OpenMedia:

Matthew Hatfield, Executive Director (by videoconference).

Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada:

Philippe Dufresne, Privacy Commissioner of Canada.

Office of the Intelligence Commissioner:

The Honourable Simon Noël, K.C., Intelligence Commissioner.

Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions:

Tolga Yalkin, Assistant Superintendent, Regulatory Response Sector.

David Shipley, Todd Warnell and Sharon Polsky each made a statement and answered questions.

At 5:04 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 5:10 p.m., the committee resumed.

Brian Leclerc, Francis Bradley, and Matthew Hatfield each made a statement and, together with Nathalie Blais, answered questions.

At 6 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 6:10 p.m., the committee resumed.

Philippe Dufresne, the Honourable Simon Noël and Tolga Yalkin each made a statement and answered questions.

At 7:05 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 7:10 p.m., the committee resumed.

Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Thursday, February 10, 2022, the committee continued its examination and report on issues relating to national security and defence generally.

TOPIC: Defence procurement and the Canadian defence industry.

At 7:11 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 7:11 p.m., the committee, Pursuant to rule 12-16(1)(d), the committee resumed in camera to discuss a draft agenda (future business).

It was agreed that the committee allow the recording of the in camera portion of today's meeting, that one copy be kept with the clerk of the committee for consultation by committee members and/or staff, and that the recording be destroyed by the clerk when authorized to do so by the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure, but no later than at the end of this parliamentary session.

At 7:19 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 7:19 p.m., the committee resumed in public.

It was agreed that the budget application for a fact-finding mission to Western Quebec, for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2025, be approved for submission to the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration:

GENERAL EXPENSES

At 7:20 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

Ericka Paajanen

Clerk of the Committee