Transport Committee on March 24th, 2022

Evidence of meeting #9 for Transport, Infrastructure and Communities in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was cybersecurity.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

Canada’s Preparedness to Respond to Russian Threats to Canadian Waters, Ports and Airspace

MPs speaking

Peter Schiefke

Matt Jeneroux

George Chahal

Xavier Barsalou-Duval

Also speaking

Denis Vinette Vice-President, Travellers Branch, Canada Border Services Agency

Rajiv Gupta Associate Head, Canadian Centre for Cyber Security, Communications Security Establishment

Ryan Schwartz Acting Director General, Critical Infrastructure Directorate, National and Cyber Security Branch, Department of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness

John de Boer Senior Director, Government Affairs and Public Policy, Canada, BlackBerry

Clerk of the Committee Mr. Michael MacPherson

5:15 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Peter Schiefke

Perhaps if it's okay with the committee, we'll conclude the questioning for Monsieur Lemire, and then we can conclude. Does that work?

5:15 p.m.

Liberal

Churence Rogers Liberal Bonavista—Burin—Trinity, NL

I would suggest that, Mr. Chair, yes.

5:15 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Peter Schiefke

Thank you very much, Mr. Rogers.

Mr. Lemire, you can continue.

5:15 p.m.

Bloc

Sébastien Lemire Bloc Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC

Thank you, Mr. Chair. It is much appreciated.

Mr. de Boer, you can see that Russia is cyberbullying and trying to influence public opinion in several areas of interest. We saw this during the United States elections, for example. I have heard that there was an attempt to influence the perception of projects such as the deployment and sale of hydroelectricity in the northeastern part of the United States. Allegedly, there was intimidation from foreign countries.

Is that the kind of information you're able to see on the ground?

5:15 p.m.

Senior Director, Government Affairs and Public Policy, Canada, BlackBerry

Dr. John de Boer

BlackBerry is not necessarily in the business of dealing with this information or influence [Technical difficulty—Editor]. Our focus is strictly on the technical side of cybersecurity. I wouldn't be able to comment on that aspect of this threat landscape, unfortunately.

5:15 p.m.

Bloc

Sébastien Lemire Bloc Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC

If Russian planes invaded our airspace, would you be able to know that?

5:15 p.m.

Senior Director, Government Affairs and Public Policy, Canada, BlackBerry

Dr. John de Boer

No, that would not be information we would have access to or that we would engage in.

5:15 p.m.

Bloc

Sébastien Lemire Bloc Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC

Very well. Thank you very much.

5:15 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Peter Schiefke

Thank you very much, Mr. Lemire.

Thank you, Dr. de Boer, for being here and for providing us with your testimony.

That concludes this committee's testimony on Canada's preparedness to respond to Russian threats to Canadian waters, ports and airspace.

Thank you very much, colleagues.

The committee is adjourned until Monday, March 28, at 11 a.m.