Evidence of meeting #89 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 information.
A video is available from Parliament.
12:10 p.m.
Bloc
Marie-Hélène Gaudreau Bloc Laurentides—Labelle, QC
Thank you, Madam Chair.
Mr. Stewart, I'm truly sorry you've had to go through this twice during the same meeting. I hope there isn't a third time.
I have a question, and I'm going to be constructive. It's very simple. The answers I got cover changes that were made recently. I'd like to know when those changes were made. What does “recently” mean? When exactly was it? Can you give me a date, a month? I just need to know that.
October 19th, 2023 / 12:15 p.m.
Deputy Minister, International Trade, Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development
This summer, the Privy Council Office created a committee of senior public servants focused on national security threats. Then, the Prime Minister established a national security cabinet committee, which he, himself, chairs.
12:15 p.m.
Bloc
Marie-Hélène Gaudreau Bloc Laurentides—Labelle, QC
It was after May, but during the summer. Great.
That's all for me, Madam Chair.
12:15 p.m.
NDP
Rachel Blaney NDP North Island—Powell River, BC
Thank you so much, Chair.
This is of particular importance to me as well because one of my members was also targeted. I know that it is a growing concern. I think that as we look at democracy, we have to do all that we can to protect it, and that means protecting the system.
Of course, the focus right now is on the election period, which I understand and I think it's important, but we also know there are activities happening in between elections. Even if it's targeting a particular member, it creates a trend that is concerning to me.
I know that RRM Canada leads the G7 RRM. I'm wondering if you could share with us how are those folks coming together to talk about best practices with what's happening. Is there any discussion about having more work done in between elections to address some of these trends we're seeing that are concerning and that add up to a bigger impact during the election?
What I'm worried about is if we simply are waiting to address this at election time, without that understanding that between election time is also very important for election time, we're going to be missing important factors.
12:15 p.m.
Deputy Minister, International Trade, Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development
I can't answer the G7 part of that question because it's not in my role at the moment, but I can speak to the more general point and start with the point that many reports have been written and notice given of the need to do more on a continuing basis to track foreign interference. It isn't as if it's ignored in any way by the agencies that are responsible for national security, but to amplify the messages, for people to understand better the threats, including parliamentarians.... You have those written reports that were written after the 2021 and 2019 elections, as well as by the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians.
The point here is there are layers to defend against foreign interference, which, as I have said before, goes on all the time. One of those layers, if you'll permit me, Madam Chair, is just people's understanding and ability to recognize when it's happening, and then there's the question of the diagnostique, when it occurs, and how we respond to it.
12:15 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Bardish Chagger
Thank you so much.
With that, Mr. Stewart, we would like to thank you for your time and attention today. If anything comes to mind, let us know. We wish you the best and appreciate your making time.
The meeting is suspended. We will continue with committee business when we return from the suspension and it's been switched over.
Thank you.
[Proceedings continue in camera]