THE STANDING SENATE COMMITTEE ON LEGAL AND CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
OTTAWA, Thursday, February 12, 2026
(25)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs met this day at 1:30 p.m., in room B30, Senate of Canada Building, the chair, the Honourable David M. Arnot, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Arnot, Batters, Clement, Cuzner, Miville-Dechêne, Moncion, Pate, Prosper, Saint-Germain, Simons and Tannas (11).
Other senators present: The Honourable Senators Dalphond, Dasko and Deacon (Nova Scotia) (3).
Participating in the meeting: Dana Phillips and Michaela Keenan-Pelletier, Analysts, Library of Parliament.
Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Thursday, February 5, 2026, the committee continued its consideration of the subject matter of Part 4 of Bill C-4, An Act respecting certain affordability measures for Canadians and another measure.
WITNESSES (by videoconference):
OpenMedia:
Matthew Alexander Hatfield, Executive Director.
Canadian Civil Liberties Association:
Tamir Israel, Director, Privacy, Surveillance and Technologies Program.
Conservative Fund Canada:
Michael Wilson, Outside Counsel, Goodmans LLP.
Federal Liberal Agency of Canada:
Alexis Levine, Outside Counsel, Blake, Cassels and Graydon LLP.
New Democratic Party of Canada:
Carmela Allevato, Senior Counsel, Allevato Quail and Associates.
As an individual:
Elizabeth Denham, Former Information and Privacy Commissioner of the United Kingdom and British Columbia.
Matthew Alexander Hatfield, Tamir Israel and Elizabeth Denham each made a statement and answered questions.
At 2:29 p.m., the committee suspended.
At 2:33 p.m., the committee resumed.
Michael Wilson, Alexis Levine and Carmela Allevato each made a statement and answered questions.
At 3:30 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
Vincent Labrosse
Clerk of the Committee