Transport Committee on Dec. 13th, 2023

[Xavier Barsalou-Duval, Bloc, Pierre-Boucher—Les Patriotes—Verchères, QC]

I have a point of order, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Schiefke]

The floor is yours, Mr. Barsalou‑Duval.

[Xavier Barsalou-Duval, Bloc, Pierre-Boucher—Les Patriotes—Verchères, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

In fact, I am raising a point of order because I am trying to understand whether raising a point of order to add one's self to the list of people who wish to speak is a new norm. Is this a recommended practice or are there other more appropriate ways of doing this?

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Schiefke]

Thank you, Mr. Barsalou‑Duval.

I think there are two parts to the member's point of order. First, he wanted to know who was on the list of speakers, and I answered his question. Then he asked me to put his name on the list, and I did.

You may now continue, Mr. Strahl.

[Mark Strahl, Conservative, Chilliwack—Hope, BC]

I'm just going to continue with the article that expressed some concerns about Bill C-26. It says:

Civil society organizations campaigning to fix Bill C-26 have welcomed Citizen Lab's findings, stating that they reinforce long-standing concerns, and that significant amendments are required to uphold civil liberties and strengthen public confidence in the resulting cybersecurity framework. These organizations recently submitted detailed recommendations to make sure the legislation “delivers strong cybersecurity for everyone in Canada, while ensuring accountability and upholding our rights.”

These recommendations reflect the findings of a previous Citizen Lab report, entitled Cybersecurity Will Not—

[Angelo Iacono, Liberal, Alfred-Pellan, QC]

I have a point of order, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Schiefke]

The floor is yours, Mr. Iacono.

[Angelo Iacono, Liberal, Alfred-Pellan, QC]

I am having trouble hearing the French interpretation.

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Schiefke]

Thank you for letting us know. Please wait a moment and we will check it.

I'll speak in English to see whether or not the French translation works.

Can you hear me, Mr. Iacono, with the French translation?

Mr. Barsalou‑Duval, is the French interpretation working properly for you?

[Xavier Barsalou-Duval, Bloc, Pierre-Boucher—Les Patriotes—Verchères, QC]

I am at a disadvantage, Mr. Chair, because I was listening to the floor channel, with no interpretation.

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Schiefke]

Can you change it so we can see whether or not the French translation works, Mr. Barsalou-Duval?

[Xavier Barsalou-Duval, Bloc, Pierre-Boucher—Les Patriotes—Verchères, QC]

It is working for me now. I heard the interpretation of what you said.

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Schiefke]

Thank you, Mr. Barsalou‑Duval.

I see that it is working properly for you now too, Mr. Iacono. Thank you.

I'm sorry again, Mr. Strahl. You're being interrupted far too many times, and I want to apologize for that.

I'll turn the floor back over to you, sir.

[Mark Strahl, Conservative, Chilliwack—Hope, BC]

It continues:

These recommendations reflect the findings of a previous Citizen Lab report, entitled Cybersecurity Will Not Thrive in Darkness, by Dr. Christopher Parsons which was published last October.

[Xavier Barsalou-Duval, Bloc, Pierre-Boucher—Les Patriotes—Verchères, QC]

I have a point of order, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Schiefke]

The floor is yours, Mr. Barsalou‑Duval.

I apologize once again, Mr. Strahl.

[Xavier Barsalou-Duval, Bloc, Pierre-Boucher—Les Patriotes—Verchères, QC]

Mr. Chair, can you explain this for me, but I am wondering whether Mr. Strahl's speech and comments really relate to the content of Bill C‑33.

In my opinion, everything he has referred to since he started speaking concerns Bill C‑26. If I am not mistaken, that bill is at a later stage. It may even have been enacted.

I would therefore like some reassurance and I would like to know whether the member's comments are in order, according to your interpretation.

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Schiefke]

Thank you, Mr. Barsalou‑Duval.

I'll ask that Mr. Strahl make the link in the continuation of his remarks between what he's discussing and clause 124.

I'll turn the floor back over to you, sir.

[Mark Strahl, Conservative, Chilliwack—Hope, BC]

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.

I'll go back, just to make sure that people listening can follow along with the train of thought in the article here:

These recommendations reflect the findings of a previous Citizen Lab report, entitled Cybersecurity Will Not Thrive in Darkness, by Dr. Christopher Parsons which was published last October. The legislation has been subject to fierce criticism for its impact on civil liberties since it was first introduced by former Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino in June 2022.

The groups and expert individuals campaigning to fix Bill C-26 are: the Canadian Civil Liberties Association, the Canadian Constitution Foundation, the International Civil Liberties Monitoring Group, Ligue des Droits et Libertés—

[Angelo Iacono, Liberal, Alfred-Pellan, QC]

I have a point of order, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Schiefke]

Mr. Iacono, you have the floor.

I'm sorry, Mr. Strahl. I have a point of order from Mr. Iacono.

[Angelo Iacono, Liberal, Alfred-Pellan, QC]

What our colleague is talking about is very interesting, but I am unfortunately having trouble following it, because I do not have any document to which I can refer so that I can better understand what he is saying. Personally, I prepared for a discussion this evening on Bill C‑33. What he is talking about is a different bill.

If the member wishes to talk about a different bill, I will perhaps ask him to provide committee members with a few details and the relevant documents, so we are able to follow what he is saying properly. I want to feel useful this evening at the committee. I do not want to be here just to listen to someone else talk. If someone is referring to something else, it would be nice to have the documents in question. That would give us the same information about the subject as the member has so we could follow his comments better, and would give us some guidance for our own thinking.

So I am feeling a bit lost, because I have no document to refer to. I do not know all the details of the bill to which the member is referring.

I will leave it in your hands. We need a little more guidance. When we are speaking in a vacuum, we will get equally empty results.

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Schiefke]

Thank you, Mr. Iacono.

I would just note that your microphone seems not to be working properly, because the sound is causing a problem. It may be because of where your mic is.

Just to check, can you talk for a few seconds, please?

[Angelo Iacono, Liberal, Alfred-Pellan, QC]

Of course, I will be happy to.

I have moved my microphone and put it closer to my mouth.

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Schiefke]

That's perfect, Mr. Iacono.