SoVote

Decentralized Democracy

House Hansard - 143

44th Parl. 1st Sess.
December 7, 2022 02:00PM
Context: House Hansard - 143 - Dec/7/22
Mrs. Julie Vignola (Beauport—Limoilou, BQ)
  • Dec/7/22 2:42:07 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Speaker, barely a year ago, the government awarded Sinclair Technologies, a company held in part by China, a contract to secure RCMP communications and the confidentiality of the Prime Minister's communications. This contract gives a Chinese government-owned company access to the RCMP's classified frequency. That would be like asking Dr. No to create gadgets for James Bond. It is as ridiculous as it is reckless. It is simply impossible to believe. Will the government immediately cancel this contract?
82 words
All Topics
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
Context: House Hansard - 143 - Dec/7/22
Hon. Marco Mendicino (Minister of Public Safety, Lib.)
  • Dec/7/22 2:42:48 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Speaker, we have already put in place a very rigorous process to protect us from threats caused by foreign interference. We are proceeding with a review of the context of this particular contract. However, we will continue to make investments. We will continue to provide all the tools the public safety and the security intelligence service need to protect all our institutions, including police services.
66 words
All Topics
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
Context: House Hansard - 143 - Dec/7/22
Ms. Melissa Lantsman (Thornhill, CPC)
  • Dec/7/22 2:44:39 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Speaker, it has not even been two weeks since the government announced its about-face on China in its Indo-Pacific strategy, and we have learned that the Liberals awarded a contract for RCMP communications equipment to a company with ties to the government in Beijing. Sinclair Technologies was awarded the contract for a system meant to protect the RCMP's land-based communications from eavesdropping. Here is the problem. Sinclair Technologies' parent company is owned, in part, by the Chinese government, and it is charged with 21 espionage offences. There is nothing to review. Will the government terminate this contract today, yes or no?
106 words
All Topics
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
Context: House Hansard - 143 - Dec/7/22
Ms. Melissa Lantsman (Thornhill, CPC)
  • Dec/7/22 2:45:44 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Speaker, here is an option: terminate it. The government admitted that it did not take security concerns or Sinclair's ownership into consideration during the bidding process. Worse yet, Sinclair's main competitor for the RCMP contract was a Quebec-based firm called Comprod. The government chose made-in-China instead of made-in-Canada, and the difference between Sinclair and Comprod was less than $60,000. The U.S. blacklisted Sinclair's parent company last year, and Canada just gave it a contract. Did the government really just sell national security for 60 grand?
96 words
All Topics
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
Context: House Hansard - 143 - Dec/7/22
Hon. Marco Mendicino (Minister of Public Safety, Lib.)
  • Dec/7/22 2:46:25 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Speaker, as we have said on a number of occasions, we are obviously looking extremely carefully at the details of how this contract was awarded, but I assure my colleague— Some hon. members: Oh, oh!
37 words
All Topics
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
Context: House Hansard - 143 - Dec/7/22
Hon. Marco Mendicino (Minister of Public Safety, Lib.)
  • Dec/7/22 2:48:37 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Speaker, with all due respect, since this is the same question, I will give the same answer. We have instructed our independent officials to do a review of this particular contract involving the RCMP. What is more important is that all members in the House understand that we have made investments to provide all the tools that the public safety community needs to protect our democratic institution.
68 words
All Topics
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
Context: House Hansard - 143 - Dec/7/22
Mr. Pierre Paul-Hus (Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, CPC)
  • Dec/7/22 2:49:14 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Speaker, Canada has a major problem with its contracting. Two years ago, when the Nuctech issue came to light, there were specific recommendations to halt purchasing from companies with close ties to the Chinese communist regime. How could the government have awarded a contract to a company tied to the Chinese communist regime for, of all things, security devices as important as the RCMP's communications systems? Is there even anyone in charge in this government, or does everyone do as they please?
84 words
All Topics
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border