Health Committee on June 15th, 2011

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Chair, Conservative, Joy Smith]

She's not going to bake any cookies, then.

With taking into account availability, can we agree, on motion 5, that working meals be done in this manner?

Dr. Carrie.

[Colin Carrie, Conservative, Oshawa, ON]

Is that the one I read out, basically?

[The Chair, Conservative, Joy Smith]

Yes--to make the necessary arrangements, after this discussion as just understood; and we'll provide tea and coffee and things like that if people are asking.

Okay?

All in agreement?

(Motion agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])

Thank you.

By the way, if you have any allergies or food restrictions, please let the clerk know.

If you have any ideas for a balanced menu, Dr. Fry, give her a call.

[Hedy Fry, Liberal, Vancouver Centre, BC]

Absolutely.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joy Smith]

There we go.

The next motion concerns the travel, accommodation, and living expenses of witnesses: that, if requested, reasonable travel, accommodation and living expenses be reimbursed to witnesses, not exceeding two representatives per organization; and that, in exceptional circumstances, payment for more representatives be made at the discretion of the chair.

Now, this particular motion was adopted by the committee last session, because there were occasions when we had more than one representative and it was prudent to cover their costs.

Just to let you all know, witnesses have 60 days to make a reimbursement claim. I know that some of the witnesses—for those who are new on this committee—were a little late getting that reimbursement in. We would go to a special committee, which I am part of....

What was it called again?

[Libby Davies, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

The liaison committee.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joy Smith]

Yes, the liaison committee; thank you.

That's where we made the decisions, and the witnesses were never turned down. It's just that it happens sometimes, because people are people.

Is there any discussion on this particular motion?

Yes, Mr. Williamson.

[John Williamson, Conservative, New Brunswick Southwest, NB]

Why is it two representatives per organization as opposed to one?

[The Chair, Conservative, Joy Smith]

I think we've found that sometimes it is just one. This says “not exceeding two” because we've found that sometimes they have different perspectives. That is just our practice in terms of what's happened in past years.

But that's a very good question. Thank you.

Yes.

[Djaouida Sellah, NDP, Saint-Bruno—Saint-Hubert, QC]

I am wondering why it says: “Que les témoins qui en font la demande soient remboursés de leurs frais de déplacement et de séjour...” You are specifying that it applies to those who make a request. Why doesn't the committee reimburse travel expenses to all the witnesses who come here? Why is it only those who make a request? If we forget to tell them that...

[The Chair, Conservative, Joy Smith]

No. I'm sorry, Madam, I'll explain it a little differently. Every witness is reimbursed; it's just that sometimes they miss the 60-day deadline.

[Djaouida Sellah, NDP, Saint-Bruno—Saint-Hubert, QC]

Okay, but saying “qui en font la demande” sounds confusing.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joy Smith]

I am trying to fill you in on some of the things that happen.

Let's say you brought a witness in and they were very busy and they didn't get their receipts in. They have to present their receipts. Well, there is another committee, called the liaison committee, that you can come to and make a little motion and say, “Please, could the liaison committee pay my witness? They missed the deadline.” It's always accepted, although we do like people to submit their expenses before 60 days.

That's just to let you know about some of the nuances.

[Djaouida Sellah, NDP, Saint-Bruno—Saint-Hubert, QC]

Yes, but that's not what the French says. I understand that the Liaison Committee will handle it and that there is a 60-day deadline. But, in my view, it would have been easier to say: “Que les témoins soient remboursés de leurs frais de déplacement dans un délai de 60 jours”; it is clearer. Saying “qui en font la demande” means that those who don't know that information will not send a request and will not be reimbursed.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joy Smith]

Yes, that's a very good point. Thank you for pointing that out.

The reason the clerk wrote this motion this way is that we don't reimburse all the witnesses. If people from the department come or government employees come....

Maybe you would like to explain more thoroughly to her in French. Thank you.

[Djaouida Sellah, NDP, Saint-Bruno—Saint-Hubert, QC]

I understood it in English. I am bilingual, but I have more flexibility with French.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joy Smith]

I wondered if I was explaining it to you well. They're very versed in the motions, so I thought that maybe you would like to hear from them.

[Djaouida Sellah, NDP, Saint-Bruno—Saint-Hubert, QC]

Thank you.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joy Smith]

You're welcome.

Are all of you in agreement?

(Motion agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])

Thank you.

Motion 7, access to in camera meetings, states that, unless otherwise ordered, each committee member in attendance be permitted to have one staff member attend in camera meetings. In addition, each party shall be permitted to have one party staff member attend in camera meetings.

Dr. Carrie.

[Colin Carrie, Conservative, Oshawa, ON]

I do want to make one slight change there. If we say that each committee member in attendance shall be permitted to have one staff member....

For those of you...the in camera meetings are the ones that are private, so we have one staff member each in any of the in camera meetings. In addition, each party shall be permitted to have one party staff member.... Instead of “party staff member”--

[The Chair, Conservative, Joy Smith]

Yes, just “one staff member”.

[Colin Carrie, Conservative, Oshawa, ON]

Yes. It would say that in addition, each party shall be permitted to have one staff member from a House officer attend in camera meetings. In other words, that's somebody from the whip's office, so you're not just going to have a party staff member there.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joy Smith]

Dr. Carrie, I've been asked that you clarify what you mean by “a House officer”. From the whip's office...?

[Colin Carrie, Conservative, Oshawa, ON]

It's somebody from the whip's office, basically, or your House leader or someone like that.