Evidence of meeting #72 for Procedure and House Affairs in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was campaign.
A video is available from Parliament.
12:20 p.m.
Liberal
Ryan Turnbull Liberal Whitby, ON
We've heard from numerous national intelligence and security experts that this has been going on for over 30 years.
12:20 p.m.
As an Individual
Call a national inquiry and open the scope to more than the last eight years.
12:20 p.m.
Liberal
Ryan Turnbull Liberal Whitby, ON
I appreciate that, but don't you think it's a bit rich for you to make a whole bunch of allegations and claims at this committee about the current Prime Minister, when the Leader of the Opposition today did nothing when he was the minister of democratic reform?
12:20 p.m.
Liberal
Ryan Turnbull Liberal Whitby, ON
Moving on from that, back when Mr. Poilievre was the minister for democratic reform, Elections Canada asked for powers to investigate violations of the act, but instead Mr. Poilievre proposed to take away power from the agency.
I can imagine why Mr. Poilievre would want to remove investigative powers, given the fact that the agency was investigating him for elections violations at the time.
Do you know why Mr. Poilievre tried to reduce the power and effectiveness of our election agencies to respond?
12:20 p.m.
As an Individual
Well, Elections Canada can absolutely investigate the actions of foreign interference going forward now.
12:20 p.m.
Liberal
Ryan Turnbull Liberal Whitby, ON
Do you think giving Elections Canada fewer tools improves our response to foreign interference?
12:20 p.m.
As an Individual
Elections Canada can investigate now. Elections Canada, sir, can investigate now, as well as a public inquiry.
12:20 p.m.
Liberal
Ryan Turnbull Liberal Whitby, ON
I would assume that giving them more tools, not fewer tools, would improve their ability to respond to foreign interference.
12:20 p.m.
Liberal
Ryan Turnbull Liberal Whitby, ON
What you have said is that our government does nothing to address foreign interference.
12:20 p.m.
Liberal
12:20 p.m.
Liberal
12:20 p.m.
As an Individual
Why don't you, in your preamble, sir, tell me what you've actually done?
12:20 p.m.
Liberal
Ryan Turnbull Liberal Whitby, ON
We've done quite a few things, actually. I have a five-page list, but I'm not going to—
12:20 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Bardish Chagger
Mr. Turnbull, I have the floor and I am going to pause.
I think what might be the best approach is to go through the chair, provide the witness time to answer and provide time for the question. Let's go through the chair. That would also provide time for interpretation.
Is that suitable?
12:20 p.m.
Liberal
Ryan Turnbull Liberal Whitby, ON
Through you, Madam Chair, I ask these questions because there is another fact here, which is that the former government's Elections Act changes really.... The minister responsible for democratic reform at the time, who is the current leader of the Conservative Party, introduced a bill to make it harder for first nations, youth and vulnerable people to vote.
Do you recognize now, Ms. Byrne, that it was a short-sighted policy?
12:20 p.m.
As an Individual
I believe I was called here to testify on foreign interference.
Madam Chair, I believe you would probably want to keep the questions relevant, considering I am here for an hour. This is not a committee to discuss the Elections Act. We could do that another day. This is to discuss foreign interference.
12:20 p.m.
NDP
Matthew Green NDP Hamilton Centre, ON
I have a point of order.
I know I am a guest at this committee, but MPs have quite some latitude in asking questions they want to ask. I've never been on a committee where a witness directs members of Parliament on their line of questioning.
I would ask, as the chair, that you allow the member his parliamentary privilege to continue with his line so that I can get to mine.
12:20 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Bardish Chagger
I am sure there are many people who have been watching the testimony of the guests who have been joining us. We really appreciate their time. There has been quite a bit of latitude, so I think we will offer that today.
I would just ask that we continue going through the chair for the remaining time of just under one minute.
Go ahead, Mr. Turnbull.
12:20 p.m.
Liberal
Ryan Turnbull Liberal Whitby, ON
Ms. Byrne, do you believe that making it harder for Canadian citizens to vote is a way to address foreign interference?
12:20 p.m.
As an Individual
No. I think a way to address foreign interference is for the government to take it seriously.
12:20 p.m.
Liberal
Ryan Turnbull Liberal Whitby, ON
Thank you.
I've seen reports suggesting that the Conservative Party has sent operatives to the U.S. to study how the Republican Party's political machine works. It's a machine that includes dangerous voter suppression tactics.
Have you ever participated in any kind of workshop or training sessions with the U.S. Republicans?