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ETHI Committee Meeting

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Minutes of Proceedings

44th Parliament, 1st Session
Meeting 51
Monday, December 5, 2022, 3:30 p.m. to 5:45 p.m.
Webcast
Presiding
John Brassard, Chair (Conservative)

Library of Parliament
• Sabrina Charland, Analyst
• Alexandra Savoie, Analyst
Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development
• Colleen Calvert, Director General, Corporate Secretary
• Alexandre Drago, Director, Access to Information and Privacy
Department of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
• Derek Melchin, Director, Access to Information and Privacy and Executive Services
• Lesley Soper, Director General, National Security Policy
Privy Council Office
• David Neilson, Executive Director, Access to Information and Privacy and Executive Correspondence Services
• Matthew Shea, Assistant Secretary to the Cabinet, Ministerial Services and Corporate Affairs
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
• Danielle Golden, Director, Privacy
• David A. Janzen, Director General, Access to Information and Privacy
Pursuant to Standing Order 108(3)(h) and the motion adopted by the committee on Monday, May 16, 2022, the committee resumed its study of access to information and privacy system.

Colleen Calvert, Lesley Soper, Matthew Shea and David A. Janzen made statements and answered questions.

At 4:14 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 4:17 p.m., the sitting resumed.

Motion

René Villemure moved, — That the committee now resume the adjourned debate on the motion moved on November 30, 2022.

The question was put on the motion and it was agreed to on the following recorded division:

YEAS: Jenica Atwin, Parm Bains, Michael Barrett, Luc Berthold, Matthew Green, Lisa Hepfner, Iqra Khalid, Damien C. Kurek, Ya'ara Saks, René Villemure — 10;

NAYS: — 0.

The committee resumed consideration of the motion of René Villemure moved on November 30, 2022, which read as follows:

That the Committee undertake, pursuant to Standing Order 108(3)(h), a study of foreign interference, particularly in the 2021 federal election, through the use of funds from foreign-influenced organizations affiliated with the United Front of the Communist Party of China, and the threats to the integrity of democratic institutions, intellectual property and the Canadian state itself that arise from this foreign interference; and that the committee report to the House.

The debate continued.

Amendment

Iqra Khalid moved, — That the motion be amended by deleting the words “, particularly in the 2021 federal election, through the use of funds from foreign-influenced organizations affiliated with the United Front of the Communist Party of China ,”.

Debate arose thereon.

The question was put on the amendment of Iqra Khalid and it was agreed to on the following recorded division:

YEAS: Jenica Atwin, Parm Bains, Matthew Green, Lisa Hepfner, Iqra Khalid, Ya'ara Saks — 6;

NAYS: Michael Barrett, Luc Berthold, René Villemure — 3.

The committee resumed consideration of the motion, as amended.

At 5:04 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 5:11 p.m., the sitting resumed.

Amendment

Lisa Hepfner moved, — That the motion be amended by adding after the words “that arise from this foreign interference;” the following: “That the committee review the work of the previous Ministers of Democratic Institutions related to the last five federal elections to combat foreign interference”.

Debate arose thereon.

The question was put on the amendment and the result of the vote was announced:

YEAS: Parm Bains, Greg Fergus, Lisa Hepfner, Iqra Khalid, Ya'ara Saks — 5;

NAYS: Michael Barrett, Luc Berthold, Matthew Green, Damien C. Kurek, René Villemure — 5.

Whereupon, the Chair voted in the negative.

Accordingly, the amendment was negatived.

The committee resumed consideration of the motion, as amended.

Amendment

Ya'ara Saks moved, — That the motion be amended by adding after the words “that arise from this foreign interference;” the following: “That this study be the committee’s next order of business, and that the committee undertake no other business until this study is complete;”.

Debate arose thereon.

The question was put on the amendment of Ya'ara Saks and it was agreed to on the following recorded division:

YEAS: Parm Bains, Greg Fergus, Matthew Green, Lisa Hepfner, Iqra Khalid, Ya'ara Saks — 6;

NAYS: Michael Barrett, Luc Berthold, Damien C. Kurek, René Villemure — 4.

The committee resumed consideration of the motion, as amended.

Amendment

Greg Fergus moved, — That the motion be amended by adding after the words “until this study is complete” the following: “that one meeting be dedicated to the rise of xenophobia in Canada”.

Debate arose thereon.

Motion

Michael Barrett moved, — That the committee do now adjourn.

The question was put on the motion and it was negatived on the following recorded division:

YEAS: Michael Barrett, Luc Berthold, Matthew Green, Damien C. Kurek — 4;

NAYS: Parm Bains, Greg Fergus, Lisa Hepfner, Iqra Khalid, Ya'ara Saks, René Villemure — 6.

The committee resumed consideration of the amendment of Greg Fergus.

At 5:45 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.



Vanessa Davies
Committee clerk