Evidence of meeting #126 for Industry, Science and Technology in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was case.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Liberal
Chandra Arya Liberal Nepean, ON
Obviously, you're right. In the Meta-Cambridge Analytica case, they have the muscle power to take it all to the Supreme Court, so the time will be taken there.
If the same case were with the tribunal, would the chances of its getting resolved be much better, do you think, than the current one?
Director General, Strategy and Innovation Policy Sector, Department of Industry
In fact, that is the design of the system that's proposed by Bill C-27 in the CPPA. It is, in fact, to have the commissioner have a stronger hand at that appeal process by virtue of the fact that the tribunal has to defer to the commissioner's findings of fact and the mix of the findings of fact and law.
That is an entirely different playing field from what you'd find at court. In that way, it is very much designed to ensure speed, as well as to provide the commissioner with a significantly stronger hand than if he or she were to take a case to court. Also, of course, the fact that the finding itself of the tribunal can't be appealed is another piece that creates a very significant backstop against a lengthy delay or overextended process.
Liberal
Chandra Arya Liberal Nepean, ON
Recently, I was reading or listening to something about the empires in the history of the world. In recent history, we have the British Empire. We almost have an American empire. However, the future empires will be dominated and controlled by the technology companies, which have the strong muscle power and the cash power. Dealing with them requires new tools. We have seen Meta, which is the very prime example.
When dealing with those companies, the tribunals—with the experts on the benches of the tribunals—play a very important role.
Mr. Chair, how much time do I have?
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Joël Lightbound
Mr. Arya, we're out of time.
This brings our meeting to an end, but before we adjourn, I just want to thank Ms. Angus and Mr. Chhabra for joining us yet again.
You've been with us for the whole month of May, and this is technically our last meeting on Bill C-27 for some time. We're at CPC-9.
I hope that this summer will make us reflect on where we want to go with this bill. Thank you very much for your professionalism and for your time.
I would also like to thank Mr. Mark Schaan, who is not here today.
The meeting is adjourned.