Good morning, and thank you for inviting us to speak with you this morning.
Before I begin my remarks, I would like to acknowledge that we are gathered on the traditional unceded territory of the Anishinabe people.
My name is Leila Wright, and I am the executive director of telecommunications at the CRTC. I am joined today by my colleagues Steven Harroun, chief compliance and enforcement officer, and Anthony McIntyre, general counsel.
The CRTC is an independent and quasi‑judicial tribunal that operates at arm's length from the government. We hold public hearings on telecommunications and broadcasting matters. We make decisions based on the public record.
In the telecommunications industry, our work focuses on increasing competition for Internet and cellphone services. We do this by promoting greater choice and affordability for Canadians, encouraging investment in reliable and high-quality networks, and improving access to telecommunications services in indigenous, rural and remote communities. We also have a team that helps protect Canadians from unwanted emails, texts and online scams.
The CRTC plays a small part in the federal government's effort to protect the security of Canada's telecommunications system.
Other organizations that contribute to this effort include the Communications Security Establishment, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, the Canadian security telecommunications advisory committee and many others.
The CRTC does not have a role to play within the proposed critical cyber systems protection act. Additionally, many of the proposed amendments to the Telecommunications Act establish new authorities exclusively for the Governor in Council and the Minister of Industry, and do not modify the CRTC's regulatory mandate under the act.
However, a few changes would be relevant to the CRTC's work. I'll focus on three changes in particular.
First, the proposed amendment to section 7 of the Telecommunications Act would add a new policy objective focused on promoting the security of the Canadian telecommunications systems. As with other policy objectives set out in the act, this addition would allow the CRTC to expressly consider how its decisions could further this new objective.
Second, the addition of proposed section 15.6 would facilitate information sharing between a broad group of security-focused government departments and agencies and the CRTC. This would be for the purpose of ensuring compliance with orders and regulations made by the Governor in Council and the minister.
Third, section 47 would require the CRTC to take into account any orders or regulations made by the Governor in Council and the minister in its decision‑making.
Should Parliament adopt Bill C-26, the CRTC will be ready to implement the amendments made to the Telecommunications Act that affect our work.
Thank you again for inviting us to speak today. We look forward to your questions.