Evidence of meeting #38 for Procedure and House Affairs in the 45th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was regime.
A video is available from Parliament.
Conservative
Michael Cooper Conservative St. Albert—Sturgeon River, AB
What was your last communication with the minister?
Assistant Deputy Minister, National and Cyber Security Branch, Department of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
I can't recall. We mainly brief the minister's office.
Conservative
Assistant Deputy Minister, National and Cyber Security Branch, Department of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
I spoke to the minister yesterday, socially, but we discussed—
Conservative
Assistant Deputy Minister, National and Cyber Security Branch, Department of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
On this issue.... I can't remember exactly.
Conservative
Assistant Deputy Minister, National and Cyber Security Branch, Department of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
Assistant Deputy Minister, National and Cyber Security Branch, Department of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
Well, it's mostly with the minister's office that transactions are made.
Conservative
Assistant Deputy Minister, National and Cyber Security Branch, Department of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
Details of that transaction... It is the chief of staff, key personnel.
Conservative
Michael Cooper Conservative St. Albert—Sturgeon River, AB
With respect to the status of regulations, the consultation process ended in February.
Is the commissioner-in-waiting, Mr. Boegman, involved in the work towards finalizing those regulations?
Assistant Deputy Minister, National and Cyber Security Branch, Department of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
The main function of Mr. Boegman at this point is to help with the overall operational readiness of the office, because Mr. Boegman used to run a fairly large office that had, I would say, like functions in B.C. We're working with him on staffing issues, operational procedures and guidance documents, as well as on all matters relating to the operationalization of the office.
Conservative
Michael Cooper Conservative St. Albert—Sturgeon River, AB
Is he involved in the hiring of staff? Is that within his function?
Assistant Deputy Minister, National and Cyber Security Branch, Department of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
Well, he is not.... The department is, but we're supported by him in the vetting of personnel and allowing.... He's involved in the decision-making and providing advice on staffing.
Conservative
Michael Cooper Conservative St. Albert—Sturgeon River, AB
You can't provide a ballpark with respect to when the registry will be up and running, but it's been four months since the consultation period ended with respect to regulations. Can you provide a timeline for when we can expect those to be finalized?
Assistant Deputy Minister, National and Cyber Security Branch, Department of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
We received extensive comments on the regulations, and this required us to revise certain substantial portions of the regulations. That process takes time. We're close to the finish line—very close, as a matter of fact. It takes time to do it right and have the proper consultations.
Conservative
Michael Cooper Conservative St. Albert—Sturgeon River, AB
What does close mean? Is it two weeks, a month, six months, a year? It's been two years.
Assistant Deputy Minister, National and Cyber Security Branch, Department of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
Sorry, I'm not in a position to provide specific timelines, as you would understand. What I can say is that such regimes in other countries took over two years to implement, so by international standards, we're—
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Chris Bittle
You're right at six minutes, Mr. Cooper.
We'll go to Mr. Jeneroux, please.
Liberal
Matt Jeneroux Liberal Edmonton Riverbend, AB
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
To the witness, thank you for being here today.
In a similar vein of questions in terms of the timeline. I heard you mention a number of things that are waiting: a website; public awareness; Canada Gazette, part II; and two orders in council.
Now that the commissioner-in-waiting.... Could you elaborate on some of the other work that's under way so we get a bit of a cleaner timeline of what's required?
Assistant Deputy Minister, National and Cyber Security Branch, Department of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
The regime is constructed in such a way that for the regime to be operational and the law to be in force, we need to have essentially a functioning office. We need proper regulations. We need an IT system to intake the information from the public, which wants the registration. We need a public registry, and we need a website with information and educational material. We need a full office that is able to enforce the act. We need proper protocols and procedures. Internally, we need the full staffing complement.
We basically need to create the full regime beforehand and have the commissioner in place as approved by Parliament. This process was done three months ago. All this needs to be in place before we can have the law come into force and then the commissioner be formally appointed once the law comes into force.
Liberal
Matt Jeneroux Liberal Edmonton Riverbend, AB
How much of this is happening right now behind the scenes? The timeline is something you can't speak about in terms of specifics, but do we have a comfort level that the website, the staffing and the IT are being worked on?
Assistant Deputy Minister, National and Cyber Security Branch, Department of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
Oh, it's beyond being worked on. I'm saying that we are in the very last miles of completion. It's more details. The website is already ready to go. Everything is set up in its final.... We're really in the very last miles on all elements.