Public Safety Committee on May 3rd, 2022

Evidence of meeting #21 for Public Safety and National Security in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was security.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

Assessment of Canada’s Security Posture in Relation to Russia

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Charles Burton Senior Fellow, Centre for Advancing Canada's Interests Abroad, Macdonald-Laurier Institute, As an Individual

Jennifer Quaid Executive Director, Canadian Cyber Threat Exchange

Michael Doucet Executive Director, Office of the Chief Information Security Officer, Optiv Canada Federal

Frédéric Cuppens Professor, Polytechnique Montréal, As an Individual

Nora Cuppens Professor, Polytechnique Montréal, As an Individual

Jonathan Paquin Full Professor, Department of Political Science, Université Laval, As an Individual

1:20 p.m.

Professor, Polytechnique Montréal, As an Individual

Dr. Frédéric Cuppens

I don't have the answer to the last part of the question.

Having said that, there are indeed some great things about the proposed approach in the Military Programming Act 2019‑2025, including the concept of operators of vital importance, or OVIs.

In France, once it has been designated as an OVI, a company whose activities are related to a critical sector is required to meet a certain number of obligations to comply with the military programming law. This isn't a spontaneous declaration by the company; it's a requirement imposed by the state once the company has been designated as an OVI. This naturally applies to large companies, but it also includes small or medium-sized ones if they engage in activities related to a critical sector.

1:20 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Jim Carr

You have 10 seconds.

1:20 p.m.

Professor, Polytechnique Montréal, As an Individual

Dr. Frédéric Cuppens

With respect to the security of activities of vital importance, or SAVI, each sector reports to a government department. It's the department's responsibility to ensure that all the OVIs in its purview remain in compliance with the law.

1:20 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Jim Carr

Thank you very much.

Colleagues, we're now within three or four minutes of the end of our time. We don't have time to go into another round. Some of us have a hard stop within two minutes from now. I would like to thank the witnesses and to apologize for the rushed nature of the discussion. It's because of a vote that was required at the beginning of this session. I apologize for that.

On behalf of all members of the committee, I want to thank those of you who have come today for your experience, your expertise and your wisdom in shedding light on such an important part of Canadian public policy.

Thank you for all of your contributions.

Colleagues, we'll see you on Thursday. This meeting is adjourned.