THE STANDING SENATE COMMITTEE ON SOCIAL AFFAIRS, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
OTTAWA, Thursday, April 30, 2026
(37)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology met this day at 10:32 a.m., in room B45, Senate of Canada Building, the chair, the Honourable Rosemary Moodie, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Arnold, Boudreau, Burey, Cardozo, Cuzner, Hay, Moncion, Moodie, Osler, Petitclerc and Senior (11).
Other senators present: The Honourable Senator Kingston (1).
Participating in the meeting: Laura Blackmore and Mayra Perez-Leclerc, Analysts, Library of Parliament.
Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Thursday, October 2, 2025, the committee continued its study of matters related to the impact of artificial intelligence in Canada.
WITNESSES:
Coveo:
Alexandra Dassa, Senior Vice President, Technical Success and Value Engineering (by videoconference).
Bell Canada:
John Menezes, President and Chief Executive Officer, Bell Cyber Inc.;
Michel Richer, President, Bell AI (by videoconference).
Alexandra Dassa and John Menezes each made a statement and, together with Michel Richer, answered questions.
At 11:29 a.m., the committee suspended.
At 11:33 a.m., the committee resumed.
Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Thursday, March 26, 2026, the committee continued its consideration of Bill S-5, An Act respecting the interoperability of health information technology and to prohibit data blocking by health information technology vendors.
The committee resumed clause-by-clause consideration of Bill S-5.
The chair asked whether the preamble shall carry.
The Honourable Senator Petitclerc moved that Bill S-5 be amended in the preamble,
(a) on page 1,
(i) by replacing line 29 with the following:
“Whereas Parliament wishes to promote coopera-”,
(ii) by replacing line 31 with the following:
“territorial governments, First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples and key”;
(b) on page 2, by adding the following before line 1:
“And whereas Parliament affirms that the enabling of easy, complete and secure access to and use and exchange of electronic health information and the governance of data under this Act as that data relates to First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples must occur in a manner that respects Indigenous data sovereignty;”.
After debate, the question being put on the motion in amendment, it was adopted.
The chair asked whether the preamble, as amended, carry.
It was agreed that the preamble, as amended, carry.
It was agreed that the title carry.
It was agreed that the bill, as amended, carry.
It was agreed that the Law Clerk and Parliamentary Counsel be authorized to make necessary technical, grammatical or other required non-substantive changes resulting from the amendments adopted by the committee, in both official languages, including updating cross-references and renumbering of provisions.
At 11:39 a.m., the committee suspended.
At 11:40 a.m., pursuant to rule 12-16(1)(d), the committee resumed in camera to discuss a draft report.
It was agreed that staff be allowed to remain in the room for the in camera portion of today’s meeting.
It was agreed that the committee allow the audio recording and/or transcription 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 audio recording and/or transcript be destroyed by the clerk of the committee when authorized to do so by the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure, but no later than at the end of this parliamentary session.
It was agreed that observations be appended to the committee’s report.
It was agreed that the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be empowered to approve the final version of the observations being appended to the report, in both official languages, taking into consideration today’s discussion and with any necessary editorial, grammatical or translation changes as required.
It was agreed that the chair report Bill S-5, with amendments and with observations, to the Senate, in both official languages.
Pursuant to rule 12-16(1)(d), the committee discussed a draft agenda (future business).
At 12:22 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
Ferda Simpson
Clerk of the Committee