THE STANDING SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATIONAL SECURITY, DEFENCE AND VETERANS AFFAIRS
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
OTTAWA, Monday, May 4, 2026
(19)
[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 Al Zaibak, Batters, Cardozo, Carignan, P.C., Dasko, Deacon (Ontario), Hay, Ince, Kutcher, McNair, White, Youance and Yussuff (13).
Other senators present: The Honourable Senator Patterson (1).
Participating in the meeting: Anne-Marie Therrien-Tremblay and Andrés León, Analysts, Library of Parliament.
Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Thursday, April 23, 2026, the committee continued its examination of Bill C-8, An Act respecting cyber security, amending the Telecommunications Act and making consequential amendments to other Acts.
APPEARING:
The Honourable Gary Anandasangaree, P.C., M.P., Minister of Public Safety.
WITNESSES:
Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada:
Andre Arbour, Director General, Telecommunications and Internet Policy Branch;
Wen Kwan, Director General, Spectrum and Telecommunications Sector.
Public Safety Canada:
Colin MacSween, Director General, National and Cyber Security Branch;
Kelly-Anne Gibson, Director, National Cyber Security Policy, National and Cyber Security Branch.
Office of the Intelligence Commissionner:
The Honourable Simon Noël, K.C., Intelligence Commissioner;
Justin Dubois, Executive Director and General Counsel.
Canada Energy Regulator:
Chris Finley, Director, Emergency Management & Security (by videoconference);
Robert Shepherd, Technical Specialist (by videoconference).
Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions:
Brendan Carley, Managing Director, Legislative Affairs and Strategic Relations Division.
Bruce Power:
Todd Warnell, Chief Information Security Officer and Enterprise Resilience.
Electricity Canada:
Michael Powell, Vice President, Government Relations.
Canadian Telecommunications Association:
Eric Smith, Senior Vice-President.
The chair informed the committee of his resignation from the chair.
The Honourable Senator Yussuff moved that the Honourable Senator Deacon (Ontario), do take the chair of the committee.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
At 4:01 p.m., the Honourable Senator Deacon (Ontario) took the chair.
Minister Anandasangaree made a statement and answered questions.
At 5:01 p.m., the committee suspended.
At 5:06 p.m., the committee resumed.
Colin MacSween, Kelly-Anne Gibson, Andre Arbour, and Wen Kwan answered questions.
At 5:54 p.m., the committee suspended.
At 6:04 p.m., the committee resumed.
Commissioner Noël, Brendan Carley and Chris Finley each made a statement and, together with Justin Dubois and Robert Shepherd, answered questions.
At 7 p.m., the committee suspended.
At 7:06 p.m., the committee resumed.
Michael Powell, Todd Warnell and Eric Smith each made a statement and answered questions.
At 8:03 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
Ericka Paajanen
Clerk of the Committee