Industry Committee on April 30th, 2020

[Navdeep Bains, Liberal, Mississauga—Malton, ON]

—and that's why we advanced the digital charter.

When it comes to consent, as you highlighted in your remarks, plain and simple language is one of the initiatives we put forward through the digital charter as a way to make sure that we empower Canadians and that they have more control over their data.

When it comes to any particular solution, I'm not aware of any specific initiative that we have endorsed at this stage. Therefore, it's a hypothetical. I again want to underscore that protecting Canadians' privacy has been, and will continue to remain, a priority for our government.

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

We're kind of beyond the point of hypotheticals. The Prime Minister has said that the government is looking at contact-tracing apps as a way to deal with reopening the economy, so I kind of reject your assertion. If you're saying it's hypothetical and your department hasn't gotten on this yet, I don't really think that you are taking privacy seriously.

I guess I'll ask again: Given that this is something that your department should have been seized with, given the Prime Minister's comments, what part of PIPEDA would apply to an app that is developed pro bono?

[Navdeep Bains, Liberal, Mississauga—Malton, ON]

Again, we haven't endorsed any particular app. Companies are approaching us with solutions. We're listening to them. We're engaging with them. When it comes to apps, they have to be voluntary. They have to comply with the Privacy Act. They have to comply with PIPEDA. These are—

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

But what I'm saying is that I'm not sure PIPEDA would apply in this situation, right? So what are you doing to—

[Navdeep Bains, Liberal, Mississauga—Malton, ON]

It gets to what you're talking about. That's what I'm saying. You are yourself posing a question and answering it, so maybe you can speak to the specific app that you're trying to highlight.

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

Well, the Prime Minister has said that you guys are looking at different options. One would assume that if you are trying to engage with companies to do this, in the art of negotiation, you would have a set of standards to go with. Your response to me suggests that you're just treating it like a hypothetical.

You said earlier that you're talking to many different companies. If you're talking to companies, what framework are you using to ensure that consent wouldn't be waived away? Have you developed a formal privacy consent framework that you're giving to these companies? Is there anything whereby you're materially setting out the demarcation line for Canadian health data and that we don't want it monetized or sold? What's there?

[Navdeep Bains, Liberal, Mississauga—Malton, ON]

We've been engaged with the Privacy Commissioner on contact tracing, and the commissioner mentioned recently that public health objectives and privacy protection can be achieved at the same time. We agree with this commentary by the Privacy Commissioner, so it's about moving forward—

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

So what are you doing?

What are you doing? As the Prime Minister said, you're engaged with companies. What are you telling them, especially since PIPEDA might not apply in this situation?

[Navdeep Bains, Liberal, Mississauga—Malton, ON]

Privacy cannot and should not be compromised.

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

But that's not doing something. That's a statement. That's not an action.

[Navdeep Bains, Liberal, Mississauga—Malton, ON]

I think so. Maybe it's a statement—

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

Canadians want action—

[Navdeep Bains, Liberal, Mississauga—Malton, ON]

We've been very clear on what—

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

I'd like you to say, “Here's what I'm telling companies.”

[Navdeep Bains, Liberal, Mississauga—Malton, ON]

Wait a minute. I'm trying to answer, but you keep on interrupting.

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

You're kind of giving me word salad, so forgive me.

[Navdeep Bains, Liberal, Mississauga—Malton, ON]

No, I'm giving you a response. You might not like the response, but I'm being very clear about what our priorities are. We've been very—

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

I don't like the response.

[Navdeep Bains, Liberal, Mississauga—Malton, ON]

That's your prerogative, but I'm doing my best to answer.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sherry Romanado]

That is all your time, Ms. Rempel Garner.

The next round of questions goes to MP Longfield. You have five minutes.

[Lloyd Longfield, Liberal, Guelph, ON]

Thank you. I'm going to be splitting my time with the member from the west coast, Paul Manly from the Green Party, in order to have his perspective as part of our conversation. I appreciate his being part of the meeting today.

I'd like to go from the hypotheticals to reality. Auto parts manufacturing is part of the North American chain and in fact the global chain. As we are influenced by other regions, such as the United States, opening up their truck manufacturing, and since we have auto parts manufacturers in Ontario supplying that chain, is ISED working with Health Canada to ensure that we have the proper PPE for workers who are being pulled back to work because of supply commitments in the global chain?

[Navdeep Bains, Liberal, Mississauga—Malton, ON]

Yes. When it comes to Health Canada, I want to underscore that as of April 28, a total of 763 medical device establishment licences have been issued. We're working very closely with Health Canada on personal protective equipment to make sure we maintain standards, and Health Canada is acting in a very nimble and flexible manner to make sure they accommodate the feedback we're getting from industry with regard to mobilization in many sectors, including the automotive sector, as you've highlighted.

I can tell you right now that ABS Friction, which is located in your riding, is part of a Canadian consortium that is making ventilators, and that's a success story of companies coming together, mobilizing and engaging the superclusters. We've created a process whereby Health Canada, procurement and medical experts have created a SWOT team to provide a quick solution in order for us to scale up.

[Lloyd Longfield, Liberal, Guelph, ON]

Thank you.

We also have Precision Biosystems working on testing equipment. Testing is also going to be very important. We need to ramp up testing. In a few seconds—so we can move over to Mr. Manly—how are we engaging with companies like Precision Biosystems?

[Navdeep Bains, Liberal, Mississauga—Malton, ON]

We're working very closely with them. They approached us through the portal. We're in a process now of working on next steps with them.

These are incredible and innovative companies that have solutions that are going to protect Canadians. It's a point of pride, because it reflects our incredible industrial base, our innovation ecosystem. It's all about protecting Canadians and making sure that we support our front-line health care workers. Mutually, it's a point of pride.

[Lloyd Longfield, Liberal, Guelph, ON]

Thank you. I'm sure proud of them as well.

I'll turn it over to you, Mr. Manly.