Information & Ethics Committee on June 2nd, 2022

Evidence of meeting #24 for Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was laws.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

Subject Matter of Main Estimates 2022-23: Vote 1 under Office of the Commissioner of Lobbying, Vote 1 under Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner, Vote 1 under Office of the Senate Ethics Officer, Votes 1 and 5 under Offices of the Information and Privacy Commissioners of Canada

Committee Business

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Daniel Therrien Privacy Commissioner of Canada, Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada

5:05 p.m.

Liberal

The Vice-Chair Liberal Iqra Khalid

If you ask your question in 30 seconds or less, we'll allow Monsieur Therrien to answer briefly. Please go ahead.

5:05 p.m.

Conservative

Ryan Williams Conservative Bay of Quinte, ON

Thank you so much.

Mr. Therrien, I want to ask about exceptions for consent. Bill C-11 mentioned some exceptions for consent, and you mentioned telecommunication carriers. What other examples have you seen for exemptions for those looking for consent from Bill C-11?

5:05 p.m.

Privacy Commissioner of Canada, Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada

Daniel Therrien

Our submission on Bill C-11 dealt with that in detail.

I would say that one case that comes to mind would be research, for instance. Health was mentioned earlier in this conversation. Research for health purposes could be, within certain parameters, an exception to consent. Bill C-11 had exceptions to consent that were way too broad, but as I said, consent is not a panacea. It is normal that there would be some exceptions to consent.

5:05 p.m.

Liberal

The Vice-Chair Liberal Iqra Khalid

Thank you very much.

5:05 p.m.

Conservative

Ryan Williams Conservative Bay of Quinte, ON

Thank you, sir.

Thank you very much, Madam Chair. I appreciate it.

5:05 p.m.

Liberal

The Vice-Chair Liberal Iqra Khalid

Thank you again, Monsieur Therrien.

We are now going to suspend for about five minutes as we go in camera for committee business.

[Proceedings continue in camera]