Evidence of meeting #25 for Public Safety and National Security in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was russia.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Christian Leuprecht  Professor, Royal Military College of Canada, Queen’s University, As an Individual
Aaron Shull  Managing Director, Centre for International Governance Innovation
Wesley Wark  Senior Fellow, Centre for International Governance Innovation
Taleeb Noormohamed  Vancouver Granville, Lib.
William Browder  Chief Executive Officer, Hermitage Capital Management Ltd, As an Individual
Jeffrey Mankoff  Distinguished Research Fellow, National Defense University, As an Individual
Errol Mendes  Professor, Constitutional and International Law, University of Ottawa, As an Individual
Jake Stewart  Miramichi—Grand Lake, CPC

12:55 p.m.

Prof. Errol Mendes

In my brief, I address this issue. To answer in the time remaining, the fact is that there is a lot of debate about whether or not Canada can put forward an online harms bill, given the backlash we've seen regarding freedom of expression. I urge this committee, the justice committee, the heritage committee and others studying this area to look at what the EU is suggesting with its Digital Services Act. It is basically saying, “Look, we've gone through that whole backlash process and we're going to present a systems approach to this issue, so the onus is on the platforms themselves. We're going to put the onus on them to have annual risk assessments, audits, independent audits and, ultimately, the potential for fines, put forward by regulatory agencies, if they do not live up to it.”

It's in my brief, if you want to have a look at it. I would be happy to talk to the committee in greater detail, later on.

12:55 p.m.

NDP

Alistair MacGregor NDP Cowichan—Malahat—Langford, BC

Thank you.

12:55 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Jim Carr

Thank you very much.

12:55 p.m.

NDP

Alistair MacGregor NDP Cowichan—Malahat—Langford, BC

I don't think we've received the brief yet, but we'll definitely pay attention to that.

Thank you.

12:55 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Jim Carr

We'll make sure that it's circulated. Thank you.

Colleagues, that takes us to the end of this panel.

On your behalf, and on behalf of all parliamentarians, I would like to thank the witnesses for their enlightening testimony on a subject that's evolving daily in front of our nation and indeed the world.

Thank you very much for sharing your insights and your expertise with us.

Colleagues, I remind you that the meeting this Thursday, May 19, will be on the main estimates and supplementary estimates (C) and will be held from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. eastern time—note that difference—to accommodate the minister's schedule.

Thank you very much, everybody. I will now adjourn this meeting.