Evidence of meeting #81 for Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was equifax.

A video is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Antonietta Di Napoli  Director, Global Operations, Equifax Canada Co.
John Russo  Chief Privacy Officer and Corporate Secretary, Equifax Canada Co.
Clerk of the Committee  Mr. Hugues La Rue

5:10 p.m.

Liberal

Nathaniel Erskine-Smith Liberal Beaches—East York, ON

All right.

Thanks very much.

5:10 p.m.

Chief Privacy Officer and Corporate Secretary, Equifax Canada Co.

John Russo

You're welcome.

5:10 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Bob Zimmer

Thank you, Mr. Erskine-Smith.

I have a few questions of my own.

As one of the members who travelled to Washington, I have a question. We know that the Privacy Commissioner oversees the data once it has been breached. The Privacy Commissioner gets involved.

Which Canadian equivalent oversees the data traffic? The U.S. Department of Homeland Security does so, and Mr. Erskine-Smith has referred to this many times. What is the Canadian equivalent? Who oversees the data and possible breaches for Equifax Canada?

5:10 p.m.

Chief Privacy Officer and Corporate Secretary, Equifax Canada Co.

John Russo

From a security standpoint?

5:10 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Bob Zimmer

Yes.

5:10 p.m.

Chief Privacy Officer and Corporate Secretary, Equifax Canada Co.

John Russo

Do you mean law enforcement?

5:10 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Bob Zimmer

Yes.

5:15 p.m.

Chief Privacy Officer and Corporate Secretary, Equifax Canada Co.

John Russo

We've been working with the RCMP and the FBI globally in regard to this incident, answering any questions they may have. The majority of the impacted individuals were Americans. In terms of the 19,000 Canadians, we've been answering any and all questions from the RCMP and other law enforcement.

5:15 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Bob Zimmer

It goes along with what different members have said, that for the 145.5 million Americans and 19,000 Canadians, the data has apparently not been used yet, but the concern is that there's this big bomb that's about to go off and what others are going to use the data for. We've heard that Canadians have not been affected by this that you've seen. Have you heard of any issues in the U.S. that have arisen from the use of the data of those 145.5 million people? Has it been used yet, and if so, what has it been used for?

5:15 p.m.

Chief Privacy Officer and Corporate Secretary, Equifax Canada Co.

John Russo

To the best of my knowledge, I have not heard of any cases. Maybe Ms. Di Napoli has heard something in regard to her conversations with U.S. operations and consumer relations. At my office, however, as chief privacy officer for Equifax Canada, I have not had a reported case in which somebody has claimed, as a result of this incident, as a result of being impacted and mailed to in regard to the 19,000, that they've been impacted negatively and had their identity stolen.

5:15 p.m.

Director, Global Operations, Equifax Canada Co.

Antonietta Di Napoli

Much like Mr. Russo, I have not heard of any instances where the impacted Americans or Canadians were impacted by any fraudulent activity or identity theft.

5:15 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Bob Zimmer

I have one last question.

What were your revenues for Equifax Canada for 2016?

5:15 p.m.

Chief Privacy Officer and Corporate Secretary, Equifax Canada Co.

John Russo

I think the revenues were approximately $250 million for Equifax Canada.

5:15 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Bob Zimmer

It kind of goes along with the question that has been asked here.

Someone's stolen identity can be life changing. We know that. I think that if I asked you for an estimate of what it would cost any individual in particular if their data were breached, again, it could be life changing. They might not be able to buy a house. They might not be able to buy a car for many years. As a result, many traumatic events could happen in their lives.

I would suggest that $50,000 is a little light on providing Canadians with the reassurance that you're going to take care of any breach. Again, as Ms. Shanahan said, you're responsible for this data. You're responsible for taking care of this data. I think you should be, at the very least, recovering all costs, if not extras, as a result of this particular data breach, which we all know, as Mr. Erskine-Smith has referred to, was your own fault. You've admitted to it. You've apologized for that.

As a committee, our time is done. I would challenge you to do the right thing and to make sure that Canadians are made whole again if they are affected by this. The concern is that we're not sure when this is going to affect Canadians, but let us hope Equifax will step up to the plate.

Thank you for appearing today and hearing some tough questions, Ms. Di Napoli and Mr. Russo.

5:15 p.m.

Chief Privacy Officer and Corporate Secretary, Equifax Canada Co.

John Russo

Thank you, Mr. Chair and committee.

5:15 p.m.

Director, Global Operations, Equifax Canada Co.

5:15 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Bob Zimmer

We're going to suspend for five minutes and then we have some committee business to do.

5:20 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Bob Zimmer

We'll bring the meeting back to order.

We have a motion from Mr. Erskine-Smith before us that most of you have seen.

5:20 p.m.

Liberal

Nathaniel Erskine-Smith Liberal Beaches—East York, ON

I expect that you all have the motion before you. It's fairly straightforward.

The nominee for the office of the Commissioner of Lobbying of Canada was tabled last Thursday in the House, I think. The idea is to bring Ms. Bélanger before us for an hour to question her and go from there.

5:20 p.m.

Conservative

Peter Kent Conservative Thornhill, ON

We had passing contact with her in her current capacity a few weeks ago. I think it's very worthy and I understand she may well be available.

5:20 p.m.

Liberal

Nathaniel Erskine-Smith Liberal Beaches—East York, ON

That's my expectation.

5:20 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Bob Zimmer

Just for the record, is she available? I believe she is.

5:20 p.m.

The Clerk of the Committee Mr. Hugues La Rue

Yes. I've reached out to her and she is available on Wednesday.

5:20 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Bob Zimmer

Okay. Is there any further debate?

I'm going to move to the vote.

(Motion agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])

5:20 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Bob Zimmer

Now we'll go in camera.

[Proceedings continue in camera]