I'd like to call the meeting to order. We have a quorum for the hearing of evidence.
Pursuant to the order of reference of Tuesday, April 25, 2006, and section 29 of the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act, we're undertaking a statutory review of the act.
I want to remind committee members that section 29 contains two subsections. The first subsection states that a committee of the House will review the administration of the first part. The second subsection states that a committee will undertake a review of the provisions and operation of the first part, and provide a report to Parliament that includes a statement of any changes to part 1 or its administration that the committee recommends. So the section provides for a broad-ranging examination of part 1.
I hope the witnesses today will be able to address the historical rationale for our reviewing part 1 but no other parts of the bill.
That said, I don't want us to keep repeating the long form of the bill, so I'd like to get us all saying “PIPEDA” the same way. I've heard people say “PIPEDA” and I've heard people say “PIPEDA”. I'm going to ask the members of the department to give us some guidance, and then maybe the committee will be able to agree to pronounce it one way. We'll then encourage all other witnesses to pronounce it the same way, and no one will have to refer to the long form of the act from here on in.
With that little opening remark, allow me to welcome our witnesses today.
From the Department of Industry we have Michael M. Binder, assistant deputy minister, spectrum, information technologies and telecommunications; Richard Simpson, director general, electronic commerce; Danièle Chatelois, privacy policy analyst, e-commerce policy directorate, electronic commerce; and Alexia Taschereau, senior counsel.
Welcome to all the witnesses.
Mr. Binder, I believe you're going to make some opening remarks. Please, the floor is yours.