Information & Ethics Committee on April 28th, 2022

[Matthew Green, NDP, Hamilton Centre, ON]

What about other types of technology, Mr. Chair?

[Paul Boudreau]

I am not aware of any other types that would fit the same bill as facial recognition technology. We also shared this information with the Office of the Privacy Commissioner after confirming its use within the organization.

[Matthew Green, NDP, Hamilton Centre, ON]

Mr. Chair, we heard testimony from the RCMP that this was to be used for things like crime scenes, and not as though we would see it on television with every camera having access to this. Is the RCMP using this for the active surveillance and capturing of mass protests?

[Paul Boudreau]

No, it is not.

[Matthew Green, NDP, Hamilton Centre, ON]

Thank you.

Mr. Chair, I will go on to the Toronto Police Service.

In my time as a city councillor, I fought vigorously against the practice that I consider to be racist in street checks and carding—racial profiling, essentially. How is the Toronto Police Service's use of this technology not simply a more advanced and highly technical version of the same practice?

[Colin Stairs]

Mr. Chair, the street-check practice is discontinued, but that is a practice—

[Matthew Green, NDP, Hamilton Centre, ON]

You don't need it now. Is that not correct? There's no longer the need to stop and ask for information when you can simply take a photo and run it through facial recognition technology.

Having been involved in direct action in my own city, I know that our local police are constantly there and consistently there taking photos of protesters. Does the Toronto Police Service also do the same practice? Do they run those photos through any AI technologies?

[Colin Stairs]

We do not.

[Matthew Green, NDP, Hamilton Centre, ON]

Thank you.

Mr. Chair, with my remaining minute, I just want to note that we are in what I think is the crux of much of the discussions we have around civil liberties. Pertaining to these witnesses, I would like to formally request that this committee consider extending this study for a day to have these members come back, because there is a line of questioning that I think deserves further depth.

Given the fact that we're going to be called back to the House, I want to make sure that these gentlemen here have the ability to fully testify under this committee's study.

[The Chair, Conservative, Pat Kelly]

That is noted. We'll have to assess our calendar. I appreciate the importance of these witnesses. I believe we have time for two more meetings on this study. There are other competing witnesses, though, that other parties have requested, so I'll take that under—

[Matthew Green, NDP, Hamilton Centre, ON]

I would also be happy to suggest, Mr. Chair, that if they were to come back along with other witnesses, we might be able to better fully examine the use.

[The Chair, Conservative, Pat Kelly]

That is noted. I will do my best to accommodate that, but we are constrained by the calendar. I'll take that under advisement, certainly.

With that, we are—

[Damien Kurek, Conservative, Battle River—Crowfoot, AB]

I have a point of order.

[The Chair, Conservative, Pat Kelly]

Okay—a quick one, if you may, please.

[Damien Kurek, Conservative, Battle River—Crowfoot, AB]

I would just note, Mr. Chair, that if the witnesses have further information to submit beyond their opening statements, or if they have interest in expanding on some of their answers, they are welcome to submit that information to the clerk and it will be distributed to the committee.

[The Chair, Conservative, Pat Kelly]

Indeed the witnesses may do that.

I will note that until statements are translated, they can't be distributed to members. The members in some cases were not privy to all of the opening statements that we received, even though they were submitted. They are not distributed to members until they are translated.

I thank our witnesses for coming today. I'm sorry that this meeting...but activity in the House always takes priority. When votes happen in the House, we have to vote.

With that, I'll thank the witnesses for attending. They may leave the call.

I would ask members to just give me a minute.

First of all, I would ask the committee for a motion to approve the budget for this study, which was circulated.

[Greg Fergus, Liberal, Hull—Aylmer, QC]

I so move.

[The Chair, Conservative, Pat Kelly]

Mr. Kurek, go ahead.

[Damien Kurek, Conservative, Battle River—Crowfoot, AB]

On a point of order, Mr. Chair, I would just note that in my examination of the budget, and understanding the good work that our translators do, I'd certainly value an explanation as to why each headset is being charged at a cost of $175. That seems a lot.

I don't want to hold up the work. I understand that our translators do good work. I'll leave it at that.

[The Chair, Conservative, Pat Kelly]

I think that will be a question maybe better put at liaison committee—

[An hon. member]

OGGO.

[The Chair, Conservative, Pat Kelly]

—if you really want to go there.

Is there any further discussion on the budget?

All those in favour of the budget as distributed?

(Motion agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])

There is one last thing I will remark on before we go to the vote. There was a draft first plan distributed to committee members for the travel proposal, as per the motion by Monsieur Villemure.

If anybody has any comments on that, or concerns or objections, perhaps I would invite you, if there are any, to—

[Greg Fergus, Liberal, Hull—Aylmer, QC]

So moved.

[The Chair, Conservative, Pat Kelly]

All right.

Mr. Fergus has moved the adoption of the report as circulated.

All those in favour of the proposal that was circulated?

(Motion agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])

With that, the meeting is adjourned.