MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS OTTAWA, Monday, October 28, 2024 (63) [English] The Standing Senate Committee on National Security, Defence and Veterans Affairs met this day at 4:01 p.m., in room C128, Senate of Canada Building, the chair, the Honourable Tony Dean, presiding. Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Anderson, Boehm, Carignan, P .C., Dagenais, Dasko, Deacon (Ontario), Dean, Fridhandler, Gold, P .C., Kutcher, Patterson, Richards and Yussuff (13). Other senators present: The Honourable Senators Al Zaibak, Batters, Duncan and McNair (4).

Participating in the meeting: Ariel Shapiro and Anne-Marie Therrien-Tremblay, analysts, Library of Parliament. Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Wednesday, October 23, 2024, the committee began its examination of Bill C-26,

An Act respecting cyber security, amending the Telecommunications Act and making consequential amendments to other Acts. APPEARING: The Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, P .C., M.P ., Minister of Public Safety, Democratic Institutions and Intergovernmental Affairs; The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, P .C., M.P ., Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry.

WITNESSES: Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada: Martin Proulx, Director General, Spectrum and Telecommunications Sector; Wen Kwan, Senior Director, Spectrum and Telecommunications Sector; David Gibson, Director, Spectrum and Telecommunications Sector; Andre Arbour, Director General, Strategy and Innovation Policy Sector. Public Safety Canada: Patrick Boucher, Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, National and Cyber Security Branch; Colin MacSween, Director General, National and Cyber Security Branch; Kelly-Anne Gibson, Acting Director, National and Cyber Security Branch.

Communications Security Establishment Canada: Sami Khoury, Senior Official for Cyber Security; Daniel Couillard, Director General, Partnerships and Risk Mitigation, Canadian Centre for Cyber Security; Stephen Bolton, Director General, Strategic Policy. The ministers each made a statement and together with Patrick Boucher, answered questions. At 5:09 p.m., the committee suspended. At 5:18 p.m., the committee resumed. Colin MacSween, Andre Arbour, Sami Khoury and Daniel Couillard answered questions. At 6:36 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair. ATTEST: Ericka Paajanen Clerk of the Committee