Skip to main content

ETHI Committee Meeting

Notices of Meeting include information about the subject matter to be examined by the committee and date, time and place of the meeting, as well as a list of any witnesses scheduled to appear. The Evidence is the edited and revised transcript of what is said before a committee. The Minutes of Proceedings are the official record of the business conducted by the committee at a sitting.

For an advanced search, use Publication Search tool.

If you have any questions or comments regarding the accessibility of this publication, please contact us at accessible@parl.gc.ca.

Previous day publication Next day publication

Minutes of Proceedings

44th Parliament, 1st Session
Meeting 54
Tuesday, January 31, 2023, 3:32 p.m. to 4:32 p.m.
Televised
Presiding
John Brassard, Chair (Conservative)

Library of Parliament
• Sabrina Charland, Analyst
• Alexandra Savoie, Analyst
Pursuant to Standing Order 106(4), the committee commenced consideration of the request by four members of the committee to undertake a study of the subject matter of the report of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner entitled "The Ng Report".

By unanimous consent, on motion of Iqra Khalid, it was agreed, — That, until the end of June 2023, Member of Parliament Annie Koutrakis be granted access to the digital binder of the committee and receive all distributions sent to committee members.

Motion

Michael Barrett moved, — That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(3)(h) and in relation to the Ng Report, the committee undertake a study into Minister Mary Ng’s violations of the Conflict of Interest Act; that the committee dedicate two meetings to the study; that the committee send for in unredacted format, all documents related to contracting with Pomp & Circumstance PR including: timesheets and statements of work performed by Pomp & Circumstance PR under each contract, all work product provided by Pomp & Circumstance PR under each contract, and dates and locations of work performed by Pomp & Circumstance PR under each contract; that these documents be provided to the clerk of the committee in electronic format no later than 12 noon on the 10th business day following the adoption of this motion; that the committee invite the following witnesses in addition to any further witnesses the committee may consider relevant to appear: Minister Ng, Amanda Alvaro, and the Deputy Minister for International Trade; that the committee report its findings to the House; and that the government table a comprehensive response to the report.

At 3:43 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 3:53 p.m., the sitting resumed.

Amendment

Iqra Khalid moved, — That the motion be amended by deleting words “; that the committee report its findings to the House; and that the government table a comprehensive response to the report”.

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Iqra Khalid and it was agreed to.

After debate, the question was put on the motion, as amended, and it was agreed to.

The motion, as amended, read as follows:

That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(3)(h) and in relation to the Ng Report, the committee undertake a study into Minister Mary Ng’s violations of the Conflict of Interest Act; that the committee dedicate two meetings to the study; that the committee send for in unredacted format, all documents related to contracting with Pomp & Circumstance PR including: timesheets and statements of work performed by Pomp & Circumstance PR under each contract, all work product provided by Pomp & Circumstance PR under each contract, and dates and locations of work performed by Pomp & Circumstance PR under each contract; that these documents be provided to the clerk of the committee in electronic format no later than 12 noon on the 10th business day following the adoption of this motion; that the committee invite the following witnesses in addition to any further witnesses the committee may consider relevant to appear: Minister Ng, Amanda Alvaro, and the Deputy Minister for International Trade.

The committee proceeded to the consideration of matters related to committee business.

Motion

Iqra Khalid moved, — That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(3)(h), the committee undertake a study of the use of TikTok and its parent company, ByteDance Ltd., and their involvement or use of private information of Canadians for the objective of data harvesting and unethical/illicit sharing of personal information with foreign entities; that the committee study whether this private data and information of Canadians is adequately protected and stored; that the committee invite relevant witnesses from: the Canadian Communications Security Establishment, key executives from Bytedance Ltd., relevant cybersecurity experts and watchdogs to testify; that the Committee devote a minimum of three meetings with witnesses to this study; and that the committee report its findings to the House.

Amendment

Matthew Green moved, — That the motion be amended by replacing the words “the use of TikTok and its parent company, ByteDance Ltd.,” with the words “the use of social media platforms such as TikTok and its parent company, ByteDance Ltd., but not limited to,”.

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Matthew Green and it was agreed to.

After debate, the question was put on the motion, as amended, and it was agreed to.

The motion, as amended, read as follows:

That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(3)(h), the committee undertake a study of the use of social media platforms such as TikTok and its parent company, ByteDance Ltd., but not limited to, and their involvement or use of private information of Canadians for the objective of data harvesting and unethical/illicit sharing of personal information with foreign entities; that the committee study whether this private data and information of Canadians is adequately protected and stored; that the committee invite relevant witnesses from: the Canadian Communications Security Establishment, key executives from Bytedance Ltd., relevant cybersecurity experts and watchdogs to testify; that the Committee devote a minimum of three meetings with witnesses to this study; and that the committee report its findings to the House.

At 4:32 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.



Nancy Vohl
Clerk of the committee