Industry Committee on May 28th, 2019

Evidence of meeting #164 for Industry, Science and Technology in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was well.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

Main Estimates 2019-20: Votes 1, 5, 10 and 15 under Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, Votes 1, 5, 10, 15 and 20 under Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency, Votes 1, 5 and 10 under Canadian Space Agency, Votes 1 and 5 under Canadian Tourism Commission, Vote 1 under Copyright Board, Votes 1, 5, 10, L15, L20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65 and 70 under Department of Industry, Votes 1, 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 under Department of Western Economic Diversification, Votes 1, 5 and 10 under

MPs speaking

Also speaking

John Knubley Deputy Minister, Department of Industry

Philippe Thompson Assistant Deputy Minister, Corporate Management Sector, Department of Industry

Lisa Setlakwe Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, Strategy and Innovation Policy Sector, Department of Industry

Mitch Davies Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, Industry Sector, Department of Industry

Andrea Johnston Assistant Deputy Minister, Innovation Canada, Department of Industry

9:20 a.m.

Liberal

Majid Jowhari Liberal Richmond Hill, ON

Thank you.

9:20 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Dan Ruimy

We'll go back to you, Mr. Albas. You have five minutes.

9:20 a.m.

Conservative

Dan Albas Conservative Central Okanagan—Similkameen—Nicola, BC

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Minister, you mentioned in these digital guidelines the importance of transparency and maintaining privacy. You also suggested that these new guidelines should apply to government entities like StatsCan. Can you please tell Canadians that their data, such as banking and credit information, has not been collected by the government without their awareness or their consent?

9:20 a.m.

Liberal

Navdeep Bains Liberal Mississauga—Malton, ON

Can I tell them what?

9:20 a.m.

Conservative

Dan Albas Conservative Central Okanagan—Similkameen—Nicola, BC

Can you tell them exactly that their data, such as financial information and banking and credit information, has not been collected by the government without their awareness or their consent?

9:20 a.m.

Liberal

Navdeep Bains Liberal Mississauga—Malton, ON

Are you referring—

9:20 a.m.

Conservative

Dan Albas Conservative Central Okanagan—Similkameen—Nicola, BC

You said earlier that privacy includes control and consent.

9:20 a.m.

Liberal

Navdeep Bains Liberal Mississauga—Malton, ON

—to the pilot project?

9:20 a.m.

Conservative

Dan Albas Conservative Central Okanagan—Similkameen—Nicola, BC

Yes.

9:20 a.m.

Liberal

Navdeep Bains Liberal Mississauga—Malton, ON

As you're aware, the Privacy Commissioner is looking into this matter. He'll make a determination of where we were in this process, what this meant in terms of privacy, and any of the issues that you're speaking to.

9:20 a.m.

Conservative

Dan Albas Conservative Central Okanagan—Similkameen—Nicola, BC

Minister, you previously just said to this committee that your digital guidelines will apply to any government entity, including StatsCan, and yet you're abdicating the decision to go ahead with the pilot project to the Privacy Commissioner.

9:20 a.m.

Liberal

Navdeep Bains Liberal Mississauga—Malton, ON

No, I'm not. I'm saying that currently the Privacy Commissioner is looking into the matter.

9:20 a.m.

Conservative

Dan Albas Conservative Central Okanagan—Similkameen—Nicola, BC

Well, then, why would the Privacy Commissioner need to look into the matter further if you've committed to Canadians that they have complete control of their information—control and consent?

9:20 a.m.

Liberal

Navdeep Bains Liberal Mississauga—Malton, ON

The digital charter was unveiled just a few weeks ago, and the Privacy Commissioner started looking into this many, many months ago.

9:20 a.m.

Conservative

Dan Albas Conservative Central Okanagan—Similkameen—Nicola, BC

The Information Commissioner has started talking about shutting down a consultation on data flows between provinces and whatnot because of your new digital guidelines.

9:20 a.m.

Liberal

Navdeep Bains Liberal Mississauga—Malton, ON

Are you talking about cross-border—

9:25 a.m.

Conservative

Dan Albas Conservative Central Okanagan—Similkameen—Nicola, BC

I know, but what I'm saying, Minister, is that if you say these digital guidelines apply, then why would it be up to the Privacy Commissioner to decide whether or not StatsCan can go ahead? Are you not saying—

9:25 a.m.

Liberal

Navdeep Bains Liberal Mississauga—Malton, ON

I'm not saying he's going to decide. I'm saying he's looking into the matter.

9:25 a.m.

Conservative

Dan Albas Conservative Central Okanagan—Similkameen—Nicola, BC

But what's the point of him continuing to look into the matter if it's not going to go ahead?

9:25 a.m.

Liberal

Navdeep Bains Liberal Mississauga—Malton, ON

He's going to examine exactly the issues you raise with regard to the pilot project, what was going on with the data, how that data was going to be anonymized, and issues of collection. All those matters are being examined by the Privacy Commissioner.

9:25 a.m.

Conservative

Dan Albas Conservative Central Okanagan—Similkameen—Nicola, BC

I know it's being examined, Minister. Again, you have said that Canadians should have control and they should have consent over their information.

9:25 a.m.

Liberal

Navdeep Bains Liberal Mississauga—Malton, ON

Correct.

9:25 a.m.

Conservative

Dan Albas Conservative Central Okanagan—Similkameen—Nicola, BC

Then why should StatsCan be able to go through with this pilot project?

9:25 a.m.

Liberal

Navdeep Bains Liberal Mississauga—Malton, ON

Any decision that StatsCan makes has to be consistent with the StatsCan act. They have to follow the StatsCan act.

9:25 a.m.

Conservative

Dan Albas Conservative Central Okanagan—Similkameen—Nicola, BC

They also do need to inform you as minister.