THE STANDING SENATE COMMITTEE ON LEGAL AND CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
OTTAWA, Thursday, May 28, 2026
(41)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs met this day at 10:34 a.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, Aucoin, Batters, Clement, Miville-Dechêne, Mohamed, Oudar, Pate, Prosper, Saint-Germain, Simons and Wells (Alberta) (12).
Other senators present: The Honourable Senator Duncan (1).
Participating in the meeting: Dana Phillips and Allison Lowenger, Analysts, Library of Parliament.
Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Thursday, May 7, 2026, the committee continued its consideration of the subject matter of Bill C-25, An Act to amend the Canada Elections Act and to enact An Act to change the names of certain electoral districts, 2026.
WITNESSES:
Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada:
Philippe Dufresne, Privacy Commissioner of Canada.
Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Alberta:
Diane McLeod, Information and Privacy Commissioner of Alberta (by videoconference).
Centre for Digital Rights:
Bill Hearn, Principal, HearnLaw, External General Counsel to Centre for Digital Rights (by videoconference);
Jim Balsillie, Founder (by videoconference).
As individuals:
Elizabeth Denham, Former Information and Privacy Commissioner of the United Kingdom and British Columbia.
Colin Bennett, Professor, Department of Political Science, University of Victoria (by videoconference);
Thierry Giasson, Professor, Political Science, Université Laval (by videoconference);
Thomas Larochelle, Graduate Student, Political Science Researcher, Université Laval (by videoconference).
Longest Ballot Committee:
Sébastien CoRhino, Member.
Philippe Dufresne and Elizabeth Denham each made a statement and answered questions.
At 11:30 a.m., the committee suspended.
At 11:39 a.m., the committee resumed.
Bill Hearn, Jim Balsillie, Colin Bennett, Thierry Giasson and Sébastien CoRhino each made a statement and, together with Thomas Larochelle, answered questions.
At 12:47 p.m., the committee suspended.
At 12:52 p.m., the committee resumed.
The committee considered a draft report.
At 1:17 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
Vincent Labrosse
Clerk of the Committee