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Minutes of Proceedings

44th Parliament, 1st Session
Meeting 124
Friday, October 18, 2024, 9:20 a.m. to Tuesday, October 22, 2024, 1:08 p.m.
Televised
Presiding
Ron McKinnon, Chair (Liberal)

• Chris Bittle for Heath MacDonald (Liberal)
• Jasraj Singh Hallan for Dane Lloyd (Conservative)
• Jasraj Singh Hallan for Glen Motz (Conservative)
• Iqra Khalid for Pam Damoff (Liberal)
• Melissa Lantsman for Dane Lloyd (Conservative)
• Melissa Lantsman for Doug Shipley (Conservative)
• Brenda Shanahan for Heath MacDonald (Liberal)
• Tim Uppal for Doug Shipley (Conservative)
• Elizabeth May (Green Party)
• Ken McDonald (Liberal)
• Brenda Shanahan (Liberal)
Library of Parliament
• Alexsandra Ferland, Analyst
• Sabrina Charland, Analyst
Pursuant to Standing Order 106(4), the committee commenced consideration of the request by members of the committee to undertake a study of recent events surrounding the expulsion of diplomats from the Government of India and the situation of foreign interference in Canada.

Motion

Alistair MacGregor moved, — That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the committee undertake a study concerning the electoral interference and violent criminal activities carried out by agents of the Government of India, as identified by the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians’ report and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police’s report from October 14, 2024, and the subsequent expulsion of six diplomats from the Government of India.

As part of this study, the committee hold no less than six meetings, ensuring an equal distribution of time for witnesses, and invite the following Ministers, senior officials, and expert witnesses from impacted communities and academia to provide briefings:

  1. Mnister of Foreign Affairs, the Honourable Melanie Joly.
  2. Minister of Public Safety, the Honourable Dominic LeBlanc.
  3. RCMP Commissioner, Michael Duheme.
  4. National Security and Intelligence Advisor, Nathalie Drouin.
  5. Experts from Canada's South Asian community.
  6. Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown and any former leadership candidates of the 2022 Conservative Party Leadership race.
  7. National security subject matter experts.

At 9:30 a.m., the meeting was suspended.

At 9:48 a.m., the meeting resumed.

Amendment

Jasraj Singh Hallan moved, — That the motion be amended by adding after the words “National Security Specialists” the following: “Canadian Security Intelligence Service Director, Deputy Minister of Public Safety and Deputy Minister of Global Affairs Canada”.

The question was put on the motion and it was agreed to, by a show of hands: YEAS: 11; NAYS: 0.

Subamendment

Iqwinder Gaheer moved, — That the motion be amended by adding after the words “Global Affairs Canada” the following: “Witnesses to testify on the impact of disinformation campaigns.”.

The question was put on the motion and it was agreed to, by a show of hands: YEAS: 11; NAYS: 0.

The motion, as amended, read as follows:

That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the committee undertake a study concerning the electoral interference and violent criminal activities carried out by agents of the Government of India, as identified by the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians’ report and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police’s report from October 14, 2024, and the subsequent expulsion of six diplomats from the Government of India.

As part of this study, the committee hold no less than six meetings, ensuring an equal distribution of time for witnesses, and invite the following Ministers, senior officials, and expert witnesses from impacted communities and academia to provide briefings:

  1. Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Honourable Melanie Joly.
  2. Minister of Public Safety, the Honourable Dominic LeBlanc.
  3. RCMP Commissioner, Michael Duheme.
  4. National Security and Intelligence Advisor, Nathalie Drouin.
  5. Experts from Canada's South Asian community.
  6. Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown and any former leadership candidates of the 2022 Conservative Party Leadership race.
  7. National security subject matter experts.
  8. Canadian Security Intelligence Service director, Deputy Minister of Public Safety and Deputy Minister of Global Affairs Canada.
  9. Witnesses to testify on the impact of disinformation campaigns.

Motion

Alistair MacGregor moved, — That, given the Royal Canadian Mounted Police report on violent criminal activities linked to agents of the Government of India from October 14, 2024, the Hogue Commission’s identification of foreign interference activities by Russia, Pakistan, China, and Iran, and the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians’ special report on Foreign Interference in Canada’s Democratic Processes and Institutions, the Chair reports to the House that the committee calls for all federal party leaders to apply for the appropriate security clearance level in the next 30 days in order to review classified information and take necessary actions to protect Canadians.

Debate arose thereon.

Amendment

Dane Lloyd moved, — That the motion be amended by adding the words “and that we release the names of all Members of Parliament and all parliamentarians who are alleged to have interfered and knowingly colluded with foreign powers.” at the end.

Debate arose thereon.

Subamendment

Alistair MacGregor moved, — That the motion be amended by replacing the word “we” with the words “the government” and tha the following words “while protecting national security and those who gathered the intelligence.” be added after “foreign powers”.

Debate arose thereon.

At 11:30 a.m., the meeting was suspended.

At 11:00 a.m., on Tuesday, October 22, 2024, the meeting resumed.

The committee resumed consideration of the motion of Alistair MacGregor moved which read as follows:

That, given the Royal Canadian Mounted Police report on violent criminal activities linked to agents of the Government of India from October 14, 2024, the Hogue Commission’s identification of foreign interference activities by Russia, Pakistan, China, and Iran, and the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians’ special report on Foreign Interference in Canada’s Democratic Processes and Institutions, the Chair reports to the House that the committee calls for all federal party leaders to apply for the appropriate security clearance level in the next 30 days in order to review classified information and take necessary actions to protect Canadians.

and of the amendment of Dane Lloyed moved which read as follows:

That the motion be amended by adding the words “and that we release the names of all Members of Parliament and all parliamentarians who are alleged to have interfered and knowingly colluded with foreign powers.” at the end.

and of the subamendment of Alistair MacGregor moved which read as follows:

That the motion be amended by replacing the word “we” with the words “the government” and that the following words “while protecting national security and those who gathered the intelligence.” be added after “foreign powers”.

Motion

Dane Lloyd moved, — That the debate be now adjourned.

The question was put on the motion and it was negatived on the following recorded division:

YEAS: Raquel Dancho, Melissa Lantsman, Dane Lloyd, Kristina Michaud, Glen Motz — 5;

NAYS: Pam Damoff, Iqwinder Gaheer, Alistair MacGregor, Jennifer O'Connell, Brenda Shanahan, Salma Zahid — 6.

The debate continued

Motion

Raquel Dancho moved, — That the debate be now adjourned.

The question was put on the motion and it was negatived on the following recorded division:

YEAS: Raquel Dancho, Melissa Lantsman, Dane Lloyd, Kristina Michaud, Glen Motz — 5;

NAYS: Pam Damoff, Iqwinder Gaheer, Alistair MacGregor, Jennifer O'Connell, Brenda Shanahan, Salma Zahid — 6.

The debate continued

At 1:08 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.



Simon Larouche
Clerk of the committee