Industry committee  Would you say yes or no?

Industry committee  Let's go back to the pilot project. Originally, the letter you wrote to the Canadian Bankers Association did not mention anything about a pilot project. Also, I'd like you to confirm, sir, that TransUnion, a credit bureau, has given Statistics Canada personal information on 27 million or so Canadians, when it comes to their credit file, dating back 15 years.

Industry committee  No, sir, I don't think that's the case.

Industry committee  I'd like just to move on here. The problem I have here is that the pilot project you're talking about with the banks is not possible without having the credit bureau information. The two are intrinsically linked. Let's say you pick a particular neighbourhood randomized in Canada.

Industry committee  Will we have the committee meeting after the apology?

Industry committee  Don't we have to finish this business first before we proceed with other business, Mr. Chair?

Industry committee  You're not going to discuss it. You're going to give notice of motion.

Industry committee  I'd like a recorded vote. (Amendment negatived: nays 5; yeas 4)

Industry committee  I just would encourage all members. There are a lot of people, I'm sure, in each of our ridings who are concerned. This is a way for us to carry out our parliamentary functions. It's obviously too bad that we're not inviting the minister, because I know from his attention to this in the House that this is something I'm sure he would love to speak to.

Industry committee  I just want to show my support for it simply because, if you look at it, among other witnesses, he's just added someone who has been active on this. I think you mean Ms. Cavoukian from Ryerson. Is that right? She's been speaking out quite publicly on this, and there's a lot of interest in this.

Industry committee  I also have a comment on the exact same point of order.

Industry committee  It's on the substance of the motion and whether you can view it as in order or not. I think that's the discussion you're having with the clerk, and I'd like to make sure my voice is heard on this.

Industry committee  I submitted this last week, or even before then. Mr. Chong has said that “study” is very important, but there was no mention even by the government of a pilot project until last Friday, so this gives exactly what we'd be asking questions on. It also says that we want to actually study, table something and report its findings to the House of Commons, and then have the government respond to it.

Industry committee  Okay. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Now that it's been received, I'm sure the clerk will find it in order, so we can have a debate on this. That the Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology study Statistics Canada's plans to collect “individual-level financial transactions data” to develop a “new institutional personal information bank” and invite Statistics Canada officials, the Privacy Commissioner, representatives of the Canadian Bankers Association among other witnesses and report its findings to the House of Commons and that the Government provide a response to the report.

Industry committee  That was a seven-minute one.