Good morning, everyone. I call this meeting to order.
Welcome to meeting three of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics. Today the committee is proceeding to the consideration of matters related to committee business.
Today’s meeting is taking place in a hybrid format pursuant to the House order of November 25, 2021. Members are attending in person in the room and remotely using the Zoom application. The proceedings will be made available via the House of Commons website. The webcast will always show the person speaking rather than the entirety of the committee.
Given the ongoing pandemic situation, and in light of the recommendations from health authorities as well as the directive of the Board of Internal Economy on October 19, 2021, to remain healthy and safe, all those attending the meeting in person are to maintain a two-metre physical distance and must wear a non-medical mask when they are circulating in the room. It is recommended that the mask be worn at all times, including when people are seated, but not when they are speaking. I will remove my mask when I'm speaking as chair. It's also required that we maintain proper hand hygiene by using the hand sanitizer provided at the room entrance. I will be enforcing these measures for the duration of the meeting and thank members in advance for their co-operation.
To ensure an orderly meeting, I would like to outline a few rules to follow. Members may speak in the official language of their choice. Interpretation services are available for this meeting. You have the choice, at the bottom of your screen, of either floor, English or French audio. If interpretation is lost, please inform the chair immediately. We will ensure that interpretation is properly restored before resuming the proceedings. The “raise hand” feature at the bottom of the screen can be used at any time if you wish to speak or to alert the chair. For members participating in the room, proceed as you normally would when the whole committee is meeting in person in a committee room.
Keep in mind the Board of Internal Economy's guidelines for mask use and health protocols. Before speaking, wait until I recognize you by name. If you are on the video conference, please click on the microphone icon to unmute yourself. For those in the room, your microphone will be controlled as normal. You don't have to hit the switch. Speak slowly and clearly for the benefit of our interpreters. When you are not speaking, your mike should be on mute.
As a reminder, all comments by members and witnesses should be addressed through the chair. With regard to a speaking list, the committee clerk and I will do our best to maintain a consolidated order of speaking for all members, both virtually and in the room.
That being said, we are here to discuss committee business. Rising from the last meeting, I will go first to Mr. Villemure, who may wish to move his motion. I will let him go first. We spoke of continuing with that motion at our last meeting.
Go ahead, Mr. Villemure.