Industry Committee on Feb. 20th, 2020

[The Chair, Liberal, Sherry Romanado]

Mr. Masse.

[Brian Masse, NDP, Windsor West, ON]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

As you know, I submitted a motion. I was hoping that as we start to plan for witnesses for a larger study, we could maybe deal with this first for two days, for when we come back, allowing us thereby to do the study and then maybe the estimates for next week. We could then get into this for a couple of days, and then we'd be done. We would get at least a couple of things achieved. We would get a better understanding of the situation facing people getting fraudulent phone calls and so forth. Second, there would be some good information related to this on protection for people and consumers. Then we would have it nice and neat and clean. It would open up to us the opportunity to do more planning toward these other studies, which are much more comprehensive and sophisticated than this one. This one's pretty direct. I was hoping we could move that and do it as our first hit.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sherry Romanado]

Thank you, Mr. Masse.

He's referring to the motion that was brought forth to this committee at the first meeting on February 18. I'm not sure whether you all have it in front of you. I can read it out:

That the House of Commons Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology, hold immediate hearings with the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC), Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), Canada's telecommunications companies and other telecom experts and advocacy groups, to better understand (a) the influx of fraud calls to Canadians' home phones and cellular devices including robocalls, ghost calls, and spam calls, (b) to give an update on the successes and failures of the National Do-Not-Call List, and (c) to outline the September 2020 STIR/SHAKEN measures and how this will benefit Canadian consumers.

That is the motion before us, with the addition of a suggested timeline of when it could be done: March 10 and 12.

We sit next week. Obviously, next Tuesday's meeting will be allocated to Bill C-4 to wrap up anything remaining. Next Thursday's meeting will be to discuss what we will be doing. Then we have a riding week. It is the following week, when we're back on the Hill, from March 9 to 13. So this would be on March 10 and 12, if the committee is in agreement.

First we will agree on the actual motion. Then, do we agree on the timing? That being before the committee, I leave the floor open for comments.

Mr. Erskine-Smith.

[Nathaniel Erskine-Smith, Liberal, Beaches—East York, ON]

It's a good idea because our next day is March 24. That gives us a lot of time to plan for a more comprehensive study. It sounds a bit ambitious if it's going to be two days, so probably one day would be the telcos and another day would be RCMP and CRTC, and maybe we won't get as many other advocates, but I think it's a good idea.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sherry Romanado]

Are there any other comments? Okay, I will put the motion to the committee for a vote.

(Motion agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])

We will schedule them, ideally, for March 10 and 12.

Mr. Masse.

[Brian Masse, NDP, Windsor West, ON]

We have some specific witnesses in there, but I'd encourage members to submit witnesses for the meetings, too.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sherry Romanado]

We will start preparing the calendar, and if you have specific witnesses that you would like to invite to those meetings, get that information to the clerk. Obviously, we'll start inviting them as soon as we can.

[Brian Masse, NDP, Windsor West, ON]

Okay.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sherry Romanado]

That extra riding week will assist in getting people lined up for those two meetings.

[Brian Masse, NDP, Windsor West, ON]

For sure.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sherry Romanado]

Of course we will leverage technology, and if we can get folks to do it by video conferencing from outside the Ottawa area, that would be helpful as well.

[Brian Masse, NDP, Windsor West, ON]

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sherry Romanado]

Thank you.

If you want to suggest witnesses for this study...

Should we set a timeline for receiving witnesses?

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

Could we maybe dispense with that after we get through Monday and Tuesday?

[The Chair, Liberal, Sherry Romanado]

Absolutely. Perhaps we can talk about the witness list for that second study next Thursday. Is that agreeable to the committee?

Okay.

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

Something I might suggest is that we reserve maybe five minutes at the end of that meeting just to set that.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sherry Romanado]

Thank you. We will do that.

Yes, Ms. Rempel Garner.

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

I don't have a standard motion in front of me, but I will make it up as I go along. I move “That pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the committee review the supplementary estimates and invite the minister to committee to appear with department officials at the same meeting and report back to the House”—or whatever the standard order is for reviewing supplementary estimates—“on Thursday, February 27.”

[The Chair, Liberal, Sherry Romanado]

I'll open the floor to debate to discuss the supplementary estimates (B) and also to invite ministers and departmental officials.

Is that correct?

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

Correct, and I would just note that there are several ministers who are associated with the supplementary estimates attached to this committee. I'm looking to my colleagues, but I would extend that to both the industry and economic development ministers, as well as departmental officials from regional development agencies and any other associated departments.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sherry Romanado]

Mr. Dreeshen is not here, but would the motion he brought forward to this committee to invite the ministers of each portfolio be included in this one, or should we keep this as a separate motion?

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

I would never speak on behalf of Mr. Dreeshen. He's quite the character, so I would leave it him to move that when he so desires.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sherry Romanado]

Perfect, thank you so much. Thank you for the clarity.

We have a motion on the floor to consider supplementary estimates (B) next Thursday, February 27.

I am opening the floor to discussion.

Seeing none, I will now call the vote. All in favour?

(Motion agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])

Thank you.

We also have additional motions that have been tabled. We will park Mr. Dreeshen's until he is back and would like to move it. We have three motions brought forth by Mr. Jowhari. The first reads:

That the Standing Committee on lndustry, Science and Technology study the regulation of telecommunications including, but not limited to, an examination of changes to the Telecommunications Act recommended by the Broadcasting and Telecommunications Legislative Review Panel.

I will bring that one forward first, and I'm opening the floor.

Mr. Jowhari, is there anything you would like to speak about on this motion?

[Majid Jowhari, Liberal, Richmond Hill, ON]

No, that motion stands open to—

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

On a point of order, Madam Sherry, my colleague has to move his motion. You have to open the floor and ask who would like to move it.