Thank you, Mr. Chair.
The rationale behind NDP-4 is that, despite the bill's stated objective of strengthening cybersecurity in Canada, many experts and civil society groups have noted that it would create broad powers that can be used to undermine Canada's cybersecurity. Proposed subsection 15.2(2) in Bill C-8 could be used to issue orders that weaken the encryption standards in telecommunications networks. Currently, the government could use Bill C-8 to compel telecommunications providers in Canada to install back doors inside of Canada's networks, including lawful access-related capabilities.
This amendment would add an interpretive clause to proposed subsection 15.2(2) that is intended to limit the government from demanding that telecommunications providers enable invasive activities, doing so by balancing the confidentiality, integrity and availability of Canada's networks. This amendment was, in fact, recommended in the joint civil society Senate submission on Bill C-26.
I know this is the same amendment as CPC-13 and CPC-14. Hopefully it will pass.
