Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics

The committee held its first meeting of the new Parliament to elect a chair and vice-chairs and adopt routine motions. Michael Barrett nominated John Brossard as chair, and the motion was carried. Gurbux Saini nominated Linda Lapointe as first vice-chair, and Linda Lapointe nominated Luc Thériault as second vice-chair; both were elected. The committee then adopted a series of routine motions covering analyst services, a subcommittee on agenda and procedure, meetings without quorum, travel, witness statements and questioning, document distribution, working meals, witness expenses, in camera meetings, notice of substantive motions, bill amendments, witness technical tests, digital binder access, and meeting decorum.

The committee then considered two motions from Michael Barrett to adopt reports from the previous Parliament—on the federal government’s use of technological tools to extract personal data, and on oversight of social media platforms—and request government responses. Leslie Church moved an amendment to suspend consideration of the first motion until the next meeting to allow members to review the reports. After debate, the amendment was defeated on a tied vote of four yeas and four nays. The committee did not vote on the main motions before adjourning, leaving the reports unadopted and the government response unresolved.