Evidence of meeting #35 for Industry, Science and Technology in the 40th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was e-mail.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Clerk of the Committee  Ms. Michelle Tittley
Paul Misener  Vice-President, Global Public Policy, Amazon.com
Tom Copeland  Chair, Canadian Association of Internet Providers
Chris Gray  Director, Canadian Intellectual Property Council
Jason Kee  Director, Policy and Legal Affairs, Entertainment Software Associaton of Canada, Canadian Intellectual Property Council
Geneviève Reed  Head, Research and Representation Department, Option consommateurs
Nathalie Clark  General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, Canadian Bankers Association
William Randle  Assistant General Counsel and Foreign Bank Secretary, Canadian Bankers Association

5:30 p.m.

Head, Research and Representation Department, Option consommateurs

Geneviève Reed

Thank you for your question that will allow me to clarify matters. What I said was that given the notion of implicit, tacit consent, there is nothing stopping a company that has an existing business relationship with a customer from sending that customer within the allowable 18-month period an email asking him if he would like to receive additional information over the next few years. Then, the relationship could continue indefinitely or until such time as the consumer or the company decides to end it. This would be part of the express consent provision, to avoid a debate on whether the period of implied consent should be 18 months, two years, five years, eight years or twenty years. I think it's clear that any business can send out an email, once a business relationship has been established, and ask the customer for permission to continue sending emails.

5:30 p.m.

Liberal

Anthony Rota Liberal Nipissing—Timiskaming, ON

So then, it would be within the context of an ongoing relationship, not a new one.

5:30 p.m.

Head, Research and Representation Department, Option consommateurs

5:30 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Michael Chong

Thank you.

Thank you very much to our witnesses for appearing today.

We must adjourn; it's 5:30 p.m. However, just before we do, I have two points of information for committee members.

First, the clerk has distributed to members of the committee contact information for personnel or members who wish to suggest amendments to Bill C-27, which we are studying today. Before you submit your amendments to the clerk, so that all members can have them in both official languages, we strongly suggest that you consult with the legislative clerk and legislative counsel to ensure that the wording of your amendment is proper and in good form.

Secondly, we received an invitation from the International Astronautical Federation for a parliamentarian event in Taejon, Korea, concerning climate change. If any members, individually or in a larger group, are interested in attending this event, talk to the clerk and she can put you in touch with the international organization.

Without further ado, this meeting is adjourned.