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SECU Committee Meeting

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Minutes of Proceedings

Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security (SECU)
45th Parliament, 1st Session
Meeting 21
Tuesday, February 3, 2026, 3:34 p.m. to 5:37 p.m.
Televised
Presiding
Hon. Jean-Yves Duclos, Chair (Liberal)

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• Jenny Kwan (NDP)
• Elizabeth May (Green Party)
• Matt Strauss (Conservative)
House of Commons
• Michelle Legault, Legislative Clerk
• Nellie Winters, Legislative Clerk
 
Library of Parliament
• Sabrina Charland, Analyst
• Alexsandra Ferland, Analyst
Committee Business
The committee proceeded to the consideration of matters related to committee business.

It was agreed, — That the proposed budget in the amount of $31,500, for the study of Canada's ability to remove foreign nationals with a criminal record, be adopted.

It was agreed, — That the proposed budget in the amount of $6,500, for the study of the subject matter of clause 371 (Division 19), and clauses 380 to 385 (Division 21) of Bill C‑15, An Act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on November 4, 2025, be adopted.

Bill C-8, An Act respecting cyber security, amending the Telecommunications Act and making consequential amendments to other Acts
Department of Industry
• Andre Arbour, Director General, Telecommunications and Internet Policy Branch
• Wen Kwan, Director General, Spectrum and Telecommunications Sector
Department of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
• Colin MacSween, Director General, National Cyber Security Directorate
• Kelly-Anne Gibson, Director, National Cyber Security Directorate
Pursuant to the order of reference of Friday, October 3, 2025, the committee resumed consideration of Bill C-8, An Act respecting cyber security, amending the Telecommunications Act and making consequential amendments to other Acts.

The witnesses answered questions.

The committee commenced its clause-by-clause study of the Bill.

The Chair called Clause 1.

Clause 1 carried.

On Clause 2,

Frank Caputo moved, — That Bill C-8, in Clause 2, be amended by adding after line 12 on page 1 the following:

“15.01 For greater certainty, a reference to a telecommunications system in sections 15.1, 15.2, 15.5 and 15.7 does not include a reference to the content of the intelligence that is emitted, transmitted or received using that system.

15.02 For greater certainty, in sections 15.1, 15.2, 15.5 and 15.7, interference with or manipulation, disruption or degradation of a telecommunications system include actions of a technical nature that impede the operation of the telecommunications system but do not include the effect of lawful expression, persuasion or political debate.”

Debate arose thereon.

At 3:45 p.m., the meeting was suspended.

At 3:46 p.m., the meeting resumed.

Jacques Ramsay moved, — That the amendment be amended by deleting the words “For greater certainty, a reference to a telecommunications system in sections 15.1, 15.2, 15.5 and 15.7 does not include a reference to the content of the intelligence that is emitted, transmitted or received using that system.”. 

At 3:51 p.m., the meeting was suspended.

At 3:52 p.m., the meeting resumed.

After debate, the question was put on the subamendment of Jacques Ramsay and it was agreed to on division.

The question was put on the amendment of Frank Caputo, as amended, and it was agreed to on the following recorded division:

YEAS: Sima Acan, Chak Au, Frank Caputo, Claude DeBellefeuille, Ali Ehsassi, Rhonda Kirkland, Dane Lloyd, Marcus Powlowski, Jacques Ramsay — 9;

NAYS: — 0.

Frank Caputo moved, — That Bill C-8, in Clause 2, be amended

(a) by replacing line 13 on page 1 with the following:

“15.‍1 (1) Subject to section 15.201, if the Governor in Council believes on reason‐”

(b) by replacing line 4 on page 3 with the following:

“15.‍2 (1) Subject to section 15.201, if there are reasonable grounds to believe that”

(c) by adding after line 33 on page 5 the following:

“15.201 (1) An order may not be made under section 15.1 or 15.2 unless the Minister first obtains the authorization of a judge under subsection (2).

(2) A judge of the Federal Court may, subject to any conditions that the judge considers appropriate, authorize the Governor in Council or the Minister, as the case may be, to make an order under section 15.1 or 15.2 on ex parte application by the Minister that sets out the reasons why the order is necessary.”

The Chair ruled the proposed amendment inadmissible because it was beyond the scope of the Bill, as provided in section 16.74 of House of Commons Procedure and Practice, Fourth Edition.

Whereupon, Frank Caputo appealed the decision of the Chair.

The question: "Shall the decision of the Chair be sustained?" was put and the decision was overturned on the following recorded division:

YEAS: Sima Acan, Ali Ehsassi, Marcus Powlowski, Jacques Ramsay — 4;

NAYS: Chak Au, Frank Caputo, Claude DeBellefeuille, Rhonda Kirkland, Dane Lloyd — 5.

Debate arose on the amendment of Frank Caputo.

At 4:33 p.m., the meeting was suspended.

At 4:48 p.m., the meeting resumed.

The debate continued.

At 4:50 p.m., the meeting was suspended.

At 4:50 p.m., the meeting resumed.

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Frank Caputo and it was agreed to on the following recorded division:

YEAS: Chak Au, Frank Caputo, Claude DeBellefeuille, Rhonda Kirkland, Dane Lloyd — 5;

NAYS: Sima Acan, Ali Ehsassi, Marcus Powlowski, Jacques Ramsay — 4.

Frank Caputo moved, — That Bill C-8, in Clause 2, be amended

(a) by replacing lines 15 to 17 on page 1 with the following:

“Canadian telecommunications system against a material threat of interference, manipulation, disruption or degradation to its integrity, availability, confidentiality or resiliency, the Governor in Council may, by order”

(b) by replacing line 8 on page 2 with the following:

“material threat of interference, manipulation, dis‐”

At 5:15 p.m., the meeting was suspended.

At 5:20 p.m., the meeting resumed.

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Frank Caputo and it was negatived on the following recorded division:

YEAS: Chak Au, Frank Caputo, Rhonda Kirkland, Dane Lloyd — 4;

NAYS: Sima Acan, Claude DeBellefeuille, Ali Ehsassi, Marcus Powlowski, Jacques Ramsay — 5.

At 5:36 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.



Paul Cardegna
Clerk of the committee