Industry Committee on Oct. 21st, 2009

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

All right. One moment.

Mr. Bouchard, go ahead.

[Robert Bouchard, Bloc, Chicoutimi—Le Fjord, QC]

I get the impression that a vote was requested a little too soon. Could we know who opposed it and who was in favour?

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

Okay.

I will again call the question on clause 6 as amended....

You want us to vote on your amendment?

[Robert Bouchard, Bloc, Chicoutimi—Le Fjord, QC]

You said it had been negatived, but I didn't see any hands raised. Actually, I saw some, but not all.

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

Okay. We will have the vote.

Madam Coady, or Madam Rota...or Mr. Rota, go ahead.

[Anthony Rota, Liberal, Nipissing—Timiskaming, ON]

I know you've been up for a while; congratulations.

We were just clarifying the difference here. Perhaps we can have two seconds amongst ourselves to discuss it.

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

I'm about to call the vote on the Bloc amendment 1.1.

[Siobhan Coady, Liberal, St. John's South—Mount Pearl, NL]

And what happens to Bloc amendment 1 because of Bloc amendment 1.1?

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

We have not considered Bloc amendment 1 because we have stood clause 2 for procedural reasons. We will consider clause 2 at the end of this meeting. We have begun with clause 3.

Currently we're considering Bloc amendment 1.1, which amends clause 6.

Seeing no further debate on Bloc amendment 1.1, I'm going to call the question on the Bloc amendment.

Monsieur Gaudet.

[Roger Gaudet, Bloc, Montcalm, QC]

Mr. Chairman, Mr. Leduc didn't answer my question about the Conservatives' t-shirt.

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

I think he adequately answered your question, but

Mr. Leduc, if you wish, you can answer Mr. Gaudet's question.

[André Leduc]

If a political party wants to engage in electronic commerce, it must follow a process if, for example, it sends e-mails to its members in the context of a dinner. Subclause 10(6) of the bill states that, in the context of a relationship with a member of a party, that person can always send out e-mails to promote a dinner, sell t-shirts and so on. You always have the right to do so if you obtain tacit or implicit or express consent.

However, it is considered illegal under the bill to send an e-mail to all Canadians stating that you are organizing a dinner.

[Roger Gaudet, Bloc, Montcalm, QC]

Mr. Chairman, I can't adjust my audio system.

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

One moment, please, while we get the translation issues addressed.

[Roger Gaudet, Bloc, Montcalm, QC]

I want to know what channel is reserved for French.

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

We're going to wait until the translation issues are fixed.

[Robert Bouchard, Bloc, Chicoutimi—Le Fjord, QC]

I'd like to ask another question.

Mr. Leduc, let's suppose a political party does some polling via the Internet. When you poll, you contact citizens who haven't given their consent. Would that political party be violating the act?

[André Leduc]

No, purely and simply. If the party is not selling products, such as tickets for a dinner or t-shirts, but is conducting voting polls, it doesn't apply. That's not business.

[Robert Bouchard, Bloc, Chicoutimi—Le Fjord, QC]

So it would apply if the political party was engaged in commercial activities.

[André Leduc]

That's correct.

[Robert Bouchard, Bloc, Chicoutimi—Le Fjord, QC]

Earlier you talked about a grey area, about an uncertainty. What type of activity did that refer to?

[André Leduc]

That applies only when the political party engages in commercial activities. Otherwise, it doesn't apply.

[Robert Bouchard, Bloc, Chicoutimi—Le Fjord, QC]

If I organize an activity to raise funds, that's not a commercial activity in your mind?

[André Leduc]

No. The fund-raisers of a political party are not commercial activities.

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

Thank you, Mr. Bouchard.

Mr. Blaney.