Discussion · Government Orders
Dan Albas Conservative
“The space agency is not a security or spy agency. It does not have the legal power to do security checks on space cargo. I am asking the member if he is worried that the minister is relying on an agency that cannot do that job.”
“Mr. Speaker, the member is an industrious member of the transport committee. I learn more each time I speak with him. Earlier today, the Minister of Transport told me in response to a question that the people at the Canadian Space Agency would help him make sure that payloads have national security screening. There would be no statutory duty to consult DND or CSIS. The Canadian Space Agency is not a security or intelligence body. It has no statutory mandate to conduct national security investigations. It has expertise but zero authority. Is the member concerned that the minister would depend on an agency to do something it is not meant to do?”
Official Hansard
Mr. Speaker, the member is an industrious member of the transport committee. I learn more each time I speak with him. Earlier today, the Minister of Transport told me in response to a question that the people at the Canadian Space Agency would help him make sure that payloads have national security screening. There would be no statutory duty to consult DND or CSIS. The Canadian Space Agency is not a security or intelligence body. It has no statutory mandate to conduct national security investigations. It has expertise but zero authority. Is the member concerned that the minister would depend on an agency to do something it is not meant to do?