Industry committee  Obviously, as the minister said, we're looking at a variety of different companies and organizations that have come to us on this issue. Absolutely any of the discussions we're having would involve the Department of Justice and would involve a privacy impact assessment, so that will be part of the consideration.

Industry committee  We've begun to look at some of the privacy implications of some of the possible alternatives that are out there, but as the minister said, the government has not made any decisions to proceed on any specific proposal, so we're not really at this space of having a formal decision to proceed.

Industry committee  It's important to just point out that the government has been very clear with us about the primordial importance of privacy in any of the work we're doing. What I would say is that not withstanding whether—and I'm speaking here hypothetically—information were to be collected for public purposes or by a non-profit, some of the things the hon. member was sort of conjecturing about—for example, whether there's any onward use of that information later, say, for commercial purposes—are all subject to PIPEDA and are also subject to provincial privacy legislation.

Industry committee  At this point I can only rearticulate the principles and explanation I've just given. If at some point the government indicates it's supporting one approach or another, I'd be more than happy to come back and go into chapter and verse on why that option met the kind of principles I just enunciated.

Industry committee  I'd be happy to come back to the committee with a couple of pieces of paper, if that would be of use. What I will say, and I think it's really important to lay this out, is that the government has been very clear that privacy considerations are of foremost concern, and certainly, as you know, as an official, you follow the instructions of your government.

Industry committee  Madam Chair, I'll leave this—

Industry committee  On the specific question of what the right number is, it's really the health ministry's issue, but we are working very closely with them to try to ramp up the domestic ability to manufacture the tests and the various kinds of equipment needed for those tests so that we're able to actually hit that number.

Industry committee  I'll let Mr. Thompson answer that question.

Industry committee  Madam Chair, I believe I've already answered the question, so I'm not sure what other information the committee might wish to hear.

Industry committee  As a general proposition, no, but we have experienced an international crisis in the intervening period, which has created some challenges for us. I will certainly endeavour to respond as quickly as possible to any future questions the committee asks.

Industry committee  Madam Chair, we have systems now to respond to parliamentary inquiries. I have been, for example, signing off on a whole range of parliamentary questions, access to information requests. As systems of government continue to move along, we will try to respond as quickly as possible.

Industry committee  What I can say is that we're working closely with colleagues in the health ministry, and certainly there have been discussions with provincial officials on the issue of the possibility of technology facilitating people managing social distancing. There has been a lot of discussion in the press and, frankly, a lot of discussion in various meetings about the issue of contact tracing.

Industry committee  I can certainly respond to some of those. I may have some senior staff here in the virtual room who may be able to provide further details, but I've had some— Go ahead. Sorry.

Industry committee  My understanding is that those have been tabled. It's possible they have not been tabled, but I have seen those answers and I have approved them. My hope would be that they would have been tabled with you by now. If you haven't seen them yet, they are certainly coming very soon.

Industry committee  I think our wish would always be to respond as quickly as possible. That's my undertaking. It has been a bit of a challenge, frankly, to pull together—