Health Committee on June 4th, 2009

[Carolyn Bennett, Liberal, St. Paul's, ON]

Then can we hold it until it comes back? I think, rather than reading it in, it would be better that they have it in front of them in writing, I think.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joy Smith]

Dr. Bennett, which clause is it, 6 or 7?

[Carolyn Bennett, Liberal, St. Paul's, ON]

Clause 7.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joy Smith]

Dr. Bennett has asked that clause 7 be allowed to stand just for a few minutes until she gets the paperwork.

(Clause 7 allowed to stand)

[Carolyn Bennett, Liberal, St. Paul's, ON]

I might as well just tell you the clauses for which we have other amendments, Madam Chair. It would be easier to give it to you: new clause 8.1, clause 14, and clause 30.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joy Smith]

Would you like those to stand until you get your paperwork? Is that what you're saying?

[Carolyn Bennett, Liberal, St. Paul's, ON]

Yes.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joy Smith]

Is it the will of the committee that clause 8, clause 14, and clause 30 be allowed to stand until the paperwork comes back for the amendments?

(Clauses 8, 14, and 30 allowed to stand)

(Clauses 9 to 12 inclusive agreed to)

(On clause 13--Requirement)

On clause 13 there is an amendment.

Dr. Carrie, would you like to speak to the government amendment, please?

[Colin Carrie, Conservative, Oshawa, ON]

Yes, through our consultations with our stakeholders, we learned that the industry is concerned about the bill's lack of clarity on a specific timeline for document retention.

What the government is proposing is that Bill C-6 in clause 13 be amended by adding, after line 20 on page 7, the following:

(1.1) The person shall keep the documents until the expiry of six years after the end of the year to which they relate or for any other period that may be prescribed.

(Amendment agreed to)

(Clause 13 as amended agreed to)

[The Chair, Conservative, Joy Smith]

Clause 14 we have stood. Next is clause 15.

[Colin Carrie, Conservative, Oshawa, ON]

We have an amendment on clause 14. Do we want to do ours first? It might be the same amendment, I don't know.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joy Smith]

We'll do it at the same time. We have stood it, so we'll discuss it, if that's okay with you, Dr. Carrie.

[Colin Carrie, Conservative, Oshawa, ON]

Sure.

(Clauses 15 and 16 agreed to)

(On clause 17--Confidential business information — serious and imminent danger)

[The Chair, Conservative, Joy Smith]

There is an amendment here on clause 17. Who would like to speak?

Monsieur Dufour, there we go.

[Nicolas Dufour, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

I will stand in for Mr. Malo in his absence.

I would like to start by checking that everyone has the new Bloc Québécois amendment, reference number 3955168.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joy Smith]

Yes, everybody has the new amendment, Monsieur Dufour.

[Nicolas Dufour, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joy Smith]

You could have got it in a little earlier, but we won't go through that.

Thank you.

[Nicolas Dufour, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

We have continued to think about this. The amendment is very simple, Madam Chair.

After discussions with industry representatives and consumers' rights associations, we think that it would be useful to add that notification can be given to the person or business whose confidential documents have been disclosed by the minister not later than the next business day following the decision to disclose.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joy Smith]

All right, we're open for discussion on this amendment. This is called an amendment to the amendment, right, Monsieur Dufour?

Is there any discussion? Do we all agree that this is accepted?

[Carolyn Bennett, Liberal, St. Paul's, ON]

For any of these, it would be helpful to hear from the officials.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joy Smith]

Absolutely. Who would like to address this particular one?

Mr. Ethier.

[Charles Ethier, Director General, Consumer Product Safety Directorate, Department of Health]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

We are in favour of the amendment that Mr. Dufour is proposing. We think that a reasonable period...it would mean that the minister would have to tell the person or the business in question that the information has been disclosed no later than the next business day following the disclosure.

(Amendment agreed to)

[The Chair, Conservative, Joy Smith]

Now, Mr. Dufour, I understand you have yet another one.

[Nicolas Dufour, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

Yes, I do, Madam Chair.

We think that it is essential to add, after the words “that is a serious and imminent danger to human health or safety”...