Members from all opposition parties and three Liberal MPs voted to support Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound Conservative MP Alex Ruff’s private member’s Bill C-377 at its second reading in the House of Commons Wednesday.
Ruff says it aims to establish a formalized process for parliamentarians to request secret security clearances from the Government of Canada.
Ruff’s ‘need to know’ security clearance bill made it through the second reading vote 173 to 143 votes.
The bill is set to continue to the committee stage next, where it will be examined by the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs (PROC).
Parliament rises for the summer after June 21st, so Ruff doesn’t expect it will be examined before then.
Ruff says, “It was an honour to table Bill C-377 back in the winter and partake in meaningful debate surrounding national security and access to information. I am proud to say that Bill C-377 passed 2nd Reading today in the House of Commons with the support from members of all parties, despite opposition from the Liberal Cabinet and the majority of the Liberal caucus.”
He added Wednesday, “With the passage of my bill today, it represents the will of Parliamentarians to increase Parliament’s ability to take national security and intelligence issues seriously, and to reduce future impasses between the House of Commons and the Government concerning access to classified information.”
Ruff says, “I am looking forward to continuing the dialogue at the committee stage as we aim to make Parliament and the Government of Canada more transparent and accountable to Canadians.”
Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound MP Alex Ruff Introduces New Security Clearance Bill