Evidence of meeting #32 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 rogers.
A video is available from Parliament.
Bloc
Sébastien Lemire Bloc Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC
Perfect. Thank you.
I assume you had a chance to look at Bill C‑26. I would like to know what you think of it.
Like Minister Champagne, are you confident that this bill will address the need for a strong and resilient network? We're seeking both qualities.
Have you ever analyzed the issue? Do you see any ways to improve this bill?
Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission
That question really should be addressed to the minister and his department. It is not our responsibility. Parliament makes decisions about Canadian laws. Not us.
However, security is an important consideration in the Telecommunications Act. No question about it. It's not currently addressed in the act, but it's very important to include it.
Bloc
Sébastien Lemire Bloc Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC
Could you say a few words about the compensation Rogers intends to offer its customers?
Are they sufficient, in your opinion, considering what these customers already went through?
Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission
I won't comment.
That is a subject we will have to deal with, and it would not be appropriate to comment on it at this time.
Conservative
The Vice-Chair Conservative Michael Kram
Thank you.
Next we have Mr. Masse from the NDP for two and a half minutes.
NDP
Brian Masse NDP Windsor West, ON
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Mr. Scott, you just said that you think the industry can fix this and it's in their best interest. How did we get here in the first place?
Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission
If you mean how did this outage happen, I mean, I think there's been a—
NDP
Brian Masse NDP Windsor West, ON
Yes. You're saying they can fix this, so they obviously didn't plan properly or didn't work together. You're identifying that they can do that and then it's in their best interest. That doesn't sound like very much oversight.
Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission
Well, no, what I said was “we”, and I assume—although I cannot speak for ISED, I did hear what the minister had to say—that both the department and the CRTC will insist and will require the industry to make the necessary arrangements. My comment about the industry is that they do have an incentive to work together to address this kind of outage, because it could happen to anyone.
NDP
Brian Masse NDP Windsor West, ON
Yes. So we've set up a system, then, that failed itself. I mean, this is what we have to do as a committee—figure out our legislative role with how we've set up a system that's heavily regulated, has very little competition, and on top of that has an essential service for Canadians, including 911. We've set up a system right now, and I want to make sure I get this correct, where we are going to rely on the industry to fix that problem.
Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission
No, I said that we would ensure, for our part, that there are measures put in place to address this kind of situation.
NDP
Brian Masse NDP Windsor West, ON
If this fails, what should be the difference in terms of your recommendation right now, at the moment, if we go through this again and it's not successful, similar to what Rogers had, another problem? Do you have any recommendations about how we should change any of the responsibility and culpability of this?
Rogers can say that it's their fault, but at the end of the day, we provide them access and rights to do business with public interest right now. What should change in the future on that front, if we find ourselves here again, if they can find the solution you think they can?
Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission
My focus is on working...having the commission deal with the industry to put in place the necessary measures. I don't have a crystal ball. I can't predict the future, and I won't predict failure. I hope to ensure the opposite, that the necessary measures are put in to make sure that the networks are more robust.
I would also just add that you've said a couple of times now that the 911 network failed. It did not. The 911 network always worked. Rogers lost complete connectivity, so their customers couldn't connect—
Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission
No, no, I'm not arguing, sir.
NDP
Brian Masse NDP Windsor West, ON
At the end of the day, if you're calling 911 and your phone doesn't get through—
Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission
I'm saying the 911 network—
NDP
Brian Masse NDP Windsor West, ON
People don't care. Their phone didn't get through. That's what it is, at the end of the day.
Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission
I agree.
NDP
Brian Masse NDP Windsor West, ON
It doesn't matter. At the end of day, the call didn't get to where it needed to go for an emergency call. That's all that matters to people and what I think they care about right now.
Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission
I agree, sir, very much. My point simply was that you just characterized it as the 911 network failing, which was not the case.
NDP
Brian Masse NDP Windsor West, ON
Well, you can argue on a technical point, but the bottom line is that people just really care about consistency and their call getting through.
Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission
You are right.
Conservative
The Vice-Chair Conservative Michael Kram
Thank you so much. We are out of time.
Next we have Mr. Généreux for five minutes.