Senator MacDonald: Senator Gold, the Public Health Agency recently issued a new request for proposals to track cell tower base location data across Canada until May 31, 2023. Earlier this week, the House of Commons passed a motion calling on the government to suspend this new tender and not to go forward with it until the Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics Committee of the other place reports that it is satisfied the privacy of Canadians will not be compromised. Senator Gold, will your government abide by this vote and not proceed with the tender at this time?

Hon. Michael L. MacDonald: Senator Gold, earlier this week, Canada’s Privacy Commissioner, Daniel Therrien, said his office was informed — not consulted, but informed — by the Public Health Agency about the collection and use of the mobility data of 33 million Canadians during this pandemic without their consent.

The commissioner also said that when his office proposed to examine the technical means used to depersonalize this data and to offer advice, the Trudeau government declined and said it would rely on other experts instead.

Senator Gold, why did the government turn down an offer from the Privacy Commissioner to provide expertise on this matter? Does your government regularly refuse advice from our Privacy Commissioner? As well, who were the experts your government did consult, and how much did it cost taxpayers?

Hon. Michael L. MacDonald: Honourable senators, I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the report of the Canada-United States Inter-Parliamentary Group concerning the National Conference of State Legislatures’ Base Camp, held by video conference, from August 3 to 5, 2021.

Hon. Michael L. MacDonald: Honourable senators, I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the report of the Canada-United States Inter-Parliamentary Group concerning the Canadian/American Border Trade Alliance Virtual Conference, held by video conference, from December 6 to 7, 2021.

Hon. Michael L. MacDonald: Honourable senators, I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the report of the Canada-United States Inter-Parliamentary Group concerning the U.S. Congressional Meetings, held by video conference, from March 15 to 18, 2021.

Hon. Michael L. MacDonald: Honourable senators, I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the report of the Canada-United States Inter-Parliamentary Group concerning the Western Governors’ Association Annual Meeting, held by video conference, from June 30 to July 1, 2021.

Hon. Michael L. MacDonald, pursuant to notice of February 8, 2022, moved:

That, notwithstanding any provision of the Rules, previous order or usual practice and pursuant to the order of the Senate on November 25, 2021, authorizing Senate committees to hold hybrid meetings, the Senate authorize standing joint committees to hold hybrid meetings;

That:

(a)hybrid committee meetings be considered, for all purposes, to be meetings of the standing joint committee in question, and senators taking part in such meetings be considered, for all purposes, to be present at the meeting;

(b)for greater certainty, and without limiting the general authority granted when this order is adopted by the Senate, when a standing joint committee holds a hybrid meeting:

(i)all members of a standing joint committee participating count towards quorum;

(ii)such meetings be considered to be occurring in the parliamentary precinct, irrespective of where participants may be; and

(iii)the standing joint committees be directed to approach in camera meetings with all necessary precaution, taking account of the risks to confidentiality inherent in such technologies; and

(c)subject to variations that may be required by the circumstances, to participate by videoconference senators must:

(i) participate from an office or residence within Canada;

(ii)use a desktop or laptop computer and a headset with integrated microphone provided by the Senate for videoconferences;

(iii)not use other devices such as personal tablets or smartphones;

(iv)be the only people visible on the videoconference;

(v)have their video on and broadcasting their image at all times; and

(vi)leave the videoconference if they leave their seat; and

That a message be sent to the House of Commons to acquaint that House accordingly.