ETHI Committee Meeting

    Honourable members, I see a quorum.

     I'd like to first wish everyone a happy new year. Welcome back.

    We can now proceed to the election of the chair, pursuant to Standing Order 106(2). As you know, I'm only able to entertain motions for the election of the chair. I can't entertain points of order, that kind of thing.

    I'm now ready to receive motions to the effect of the election of the chair.

    Mr. Calandra.

    I would nominate Pat, if he would accept the position.

    Mr. Calandra moves that Mr. Martin be elected chair of the committee. Are there any other motions?

    Seeing none, is it the pleasure of the committee to adopt the motion?

    Some hon. members: Agreed.

    (Motion agreed to)

    The Clerk: I declare Mr. Martin duly elected chair of the committee. Congratulations.

    Before inviting Mr. Martin to take the chair, with the consent of the committee, we can proceed to the election of vice-chairs. As you know, pursuant to Standing Order 106(2), the first vice-chair needs to be a member of the government. I'm ready to entertain a motion to that effect.

    Mr. Calandra.

    I'll let Pat go.

    Without the advantage of any coaching ahead of time, and I hope I'm not stepping in a cow pie here, but I would like to nominate Pat Davidson.

    Mr. Martin moves that Ms. Davidson be elected first vice-chair of the committee.

    Are there any other motions?

    Seeing none, is it the pleasure of the committee to adopt the motion?

    Some hon. members: Agreed.

    (Motion agreed to)

    The Clerk: I declare Ms. Davidson duly elected first vice-chair.

    The second vice-chair shall be a member of an opposition party other than the official opposition party.

    I am ready to receive motions to that effect.

    Ms. Davidson, you have the floor.

    I nominate Scott Andrews, please.

    It has been moved by Ms. Davidson that Mr. Andrews be elected second vice-chair of the committee.

    Are there any further motions? It would appear that there aren't.

    Is it the pleasure of the committee to adopt the motion?

    Some hon. members: Agreed.

    (Motion agreed to)

    I declare Mr. Andrews elected second vice-chair of the committee.

    I now invite Mr. Martin to take the chair.

    Thank you, Chad.

    Thank you to my nominator, Paul. I appreciate it.

    Thank you to the committee for this opportunity to continue as the chair of this committee. I look forward to a productive spring session. I think our committee is going to attract a lot of interesting topics of debate given the mandate of the committee. I know there are some routine matters that we need to deal with today.

    No? Okay. I thought because we were being reconstituted we would have to go through the routine motions once again, but that's only at the beginning of the session.

    Mr. Chair, I just wanted to point out that our analysts have not been invited to this meeting.

    An hon. member: Yes, they are here.

    Ms. Charmaine Borg: Oh, okay.

    Since our analysts are here, I would like to give notice of the following motion. I will read it in English.

    I move that, following the allegations that the CSEC collected metadata on thousands of Canadians through the Wi-Fi networks in Canadian airports, the committee undertake a study of the privacy implications and the legality of this CSEC activity and that the committee report its findings back to the House.

    According to certain allegations, CSEC is collecting metadata on thousands of Canadians who use Wi-Fi networks in Canadian airports. It would be really important for our committee to consider the impact of those CSEC activities on the privacy of Canadians.

    Since CSEC is not given the mandate to spy on Canadians, we should look into whether the organization is complying with the law by conducting such activities. The allegations made suggest the opposite. Canadians are extremely worried by those revelations.

    This committee's mandate is to study files involving the privacy of Canadians. So it is our duty to look into those activities in order to determine whether they are legal and to see what their repercussions are on the lives of Canadians. This is extremely important.

    I hope that all the committee members will recognize the importance of this motion, so that we can go ahead with this study, which Canadians expect. Currently, Canadians are extremely worried by their metadata potentially being collected without their knowledge.

    I hope we will be able to continue discussing this motion at another committee meeting.

    Just as a point of order, are you moving the motion today? It would be in order to move the motion.

     I don't think I can bring forward the motion. I'm just giving notice.

    It would be in order to move the motion today, in fact, because we were convened to discuss business. But I guess I'm just wondering....

    Can I move it today?

    The clerk advises that, actually, as I think most of us understood, we're convened today to elect the chair and the vice-chairs, and given that no one objected, it was implied, perhaps, that we had gone on to routine business and a discussion of future business. I don't see that as being the case. I think Madame Borg is correct in serving notice of this motion with the brief explanation that she did. It will be in order at the next sitting of the committee.

    Is there anything further, then, that anybody wants to raise on an informal basis? Or do we adjourn and reconvene at the next regular sitting?

    I move to adjourn, Mr. Chair.

    The motion to adjourn is in order and non-debatable.

    Mr. Ravignat, do you have a point of information?

    Could I just make the point that I am indeed on the speakers list? I don't know if that will be retained for the next meeting.

    No, I wouldn't say so. If Madame Borg chooses to move the motion at that time, we'll create a speakers list at that time.

    Okay. I just needed that clarification. That's all.

    Thank you, everyone. We'll see you on Thursday at 11 o'clock.

     The meeting is adjourned.