Evidence of meeting #112 for Procedure and House Affairs in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was third.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Conservative
Blake Richards Conservative Banff—Airdrie, AB
I think the point you're making as well, if I'm not mistaken, is that it wasn't done to try to do anything that would be beneficial or helpful to Canada or Canadians or any group of Canadians, for that matter, but it was simply for the benefit of outside interests.
Researcher and Writer, As an Individual
Yes, it was to defeat the politicians who were in favour of breaking the U.S. monopoly on our oil. That was the reason there was this U.S.-funded involvement in the 2015 federal election.
Conservative
Blake Richards Conservative Banff—Airdrie, AB
I don't have a lot of time left now, but we'll start on it and we can always continue.
You mentioned proposed new section 282.4. That's something I think we should take very seriously and have a look at. We appreciate your raising that with us. What else needs to be changed in order to properly deal with this threat?
Researcher and Writer, As an Individual
I've given that a lot of thought, and I really struggle to give you an easy answer. I don't think there is one. One thing strikes me, and this is quite different from anything that is currently mentioned in the act. I think a question we need to ask ourselves as Canadians is if we agree that it should be legal, lawful, for Canadians to assist, to support the campaign of a foreign country to harm our own country, or in fact, whether that is something that we want to make illegal. Should it be legal or illegal for Canadians to hurt the economy of our own country to the benefit of another country? That's a muddier question.
If we're okay with that being lawful, then we have nothing to do, but if we're not okay with that, then we have some serious work to do.
NDP
Nathan Cullen NDP Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC
Thank you, Chair.
Thank you to our witnesses.
Do you mean for a Canadian to hurt the economy for other Canadians, like a bitumen spill on the west coast would hurt the Canadian economy probably for other Canadians?
You used to work in the farmed salmon industry, right?
Researcher and Writer, As an Individual
Wild salmon in particular, yes, I do.
NDP
Nathan Cullen NDP Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC
That would hurt the Canadian economy, wouldn't it? If, say, somebody advocated from outside of Canada to water down Canadian environmental laws, pipeline regulations, for example, that would be a threat to the Canadian economy, certainly the B.C. economy, wouldn't it?
Researcher and Writer, As an Individual
No, I think that's quite a different issue.
NDP
Nathan Cullen NDP Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC
It is? So weakening Canadian environmental laws set to protect things like wild salmon—
Researcher and Writer, As an Individual
No, hang on. Environmental laws are not an industry. They're the regulation of an industry. You're comparing apples and oranges here.
NDP
Nathan Cullen NDP Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC
No. You said we should make it against the law for anyone to help a Canadian do something that would hurt the economy for other Canadians. If somebody advocated with, say, foreign money to weaken Canadian environmental regulations that would put the Canadian economy at greater risk, that would be doing exactly what you just said.
Researcher and Writer, As an Individual
Sir, weakening regulations is not an industry.
NDP
NDP
Nathan Cullen NDP Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC
You've done investigations mostly about so-called progressive groups or left-wing groups. Is that right?
Researcher and Writer, As an Individual
I've also looked into many, all of the right-wing think tanks.
NDP
Researcher and Writer, As an Individual
I think no matter whether...if it's foreign funding, whether it's in industry or in the charitable sector, no matter what point in the political spectrum it's on, it should be disclosed.
NDP
Nathan Cullen NDP Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC
So you're okay with right-wing think tanks receiving money if it's disclosed?
Researcher and Writer, As an Individual
I'm actually okay with left-wing think tanks receiving money too, but it should be disclosed. The same rules should apply to everyone, no matter where you fall on the political spectrum.
