Thank you, Minister. I know you can speak at length on a subject you’re passionate about, but we don’t have much time.
What stands out for me in this bill is that it confers enormous powers on the Governor in Council and the Minister of Industry, meaning you. You strike me as a trustworthy man. If you do all this secretly, things may go quite well, but some Canadians and Quebecers are worried. Transparency issues are being raised.
Can you explain why all this has to happen in absolute secrecy and what this could mean for small or medium-sized businesses?
You mentioned large companies, such as Bell and Rogers, who can afford to be fined a few million dollars by the government if they don’t comply with requirements.
But what does that mean for a small Quebec company? You know how important small and medium-sized businesses are to the Quebec economy.
What does this mean for a small telecom company with a few hundred or a few thousand subscribers, offering its services only in part of the territory?
What about the company that doesn’t have the workforce to implement a security plan that complies with your plan? Will it be fined a few million dollars?
What powers can you wield? People tell us they read in the legislative summary that the Minister of Industry can make orders and decrees, but they don’t know what they are.
Can you explain all this to us?