Health Committee on Nov. 6th, 2025

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Dan Mazier]

Hello, everyone. I'd like to call this meeting to order.

Welcome to meeting number 11 of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Health. Today's meeting will be in a hybrid format, pursuant to the Standing Orders that we're all so familiar with.

Pursuant to the motion adopted on Tuesday, September 23, 2025, the committee shall resume its study of the impact of immigration policy on health care and barriers to integrating internationally trained professionals.

Before I welcome our witnesses, I do have some housekeeping items.

There was a motion circulated, on which I am seeking unanimous consent, for the digital binders for associate members on behalf of all parliamentarians. They do not have access to those digital binders right now. All the other committees have done that.

I'm just seeking unanimous consent for that motion. It was circulated weeks ago.

(Motion agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])

We have UC. Very good. Thank you.

With that...yes?

[Burton Bailey, Conservative, Red Deer, AB]

I'd like to address an email that was circulated by a Liberal member before this meeting today.

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Dan Mazier]

Did you want to speak, Mr. Bailey?

[Burton Bailey, Conservative, Red Deer, AB]

I do want to speak, Mr. Chair.

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Dan Mazier]

Okay. Thank you.

[Burton Bailey, Conservative, Red Deer, AB]

I'd like to address an email that was circulated by a Liberal member before this meeting today implicating one of our witness organizations in some sort of conspiracy about the freedom of religion of Canadians.

I'd like to quote the email from the Liberal member from Winnipeg West:

Just realized a potential trap the conservatives might spring with the Catholic organization. They describe themselves [as] having “Catholic Values”. The conservatives have been claiming that the Liberal Government has been planning to remove charitable status for religious organizations. It came up during the campaign and they are regularly submitting petitions about this.

I'd like to know what the member means by saying that Conservatives describe themselves as having Catholic values. What are Catholic values to the member? What is wrong about having Catholic values? I find it reprehensible that the Liberal member would use the term “Catholic values” in a negative way, especially considering one of our witnesses here today, a community organization that has been doing good work in providing programming, education and social integration of newcomers for over 40 years, as somehow part of a broader conspiracy.

We're here to gather perspectives from a variety of organizations and individuals about the impact of immigration on Canadian health care. Liberals are denigrating the freedom of religion of Canadians, which is just typical behaviour, proving once again the views of our society...value nothing and want to tear down our society and values.

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Dan Mazier]

Thank you, Mr. Bailey. Was this just a statement?

[Burton Bailey, Conservative, Red Deer, AB]

Yes.

[Doug Eyolfson, Liberal, Winnipeg West, MB]

Mr. Chair, may I respond?

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Dan Mazier]

No. We're in the middle of a study.

[Doug Eyolfson, Liberal, Winnipeg West, MB]

Something has been said about what I sent. If he's been given the time to say that, I insist that I have the opportunity to respond to that.

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Dan Mazier]

First of all, I gave him the floor. I did not give you the floor. I said we were moving forward with the study, so we're just going to move forward with the study—onward and upward.

[Doug Eyolfson, Liberal, Winnipeg West, MB]

Objection. I have a point of privilege, Mr. Chair.

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Dan Mazier]

Yes.

[Doug Eyolfson, Liberal, Winnipeg West, MB]

You said we were on the study. You gave the other member the floor. I'm being accused of something, and I insist on having the opportunity to respond and clarify, because I believe my comments have been misrepresented. I insist on the opportunity to respond to that.

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Dan Mazier]

Mr. Eyolfson, we have witnesses here from right across this country. We have committee members here. I'm sorry—

[Doug Eyolfson, Liberal, Winnipeg West, MB]

Then why did you give the floor to Mr. Bailey for this?

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Dan Mazier]

Because he asked for it.

[Doug Eyolfson, Liberal, Winnipeg West, MB]

Yes, and I'm asking for it too.

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Dan Mazier]

I didn't acknowledge you, though.

[Doug Eyolfson, Liberal, Winnipeg West, MB]

No.

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Dan Mazier]

You just started speaking.

[Doug Eyolfson, Liberal, Winnipeg West, MB]

I asked for the floor. Mr. Bailey asked for the floor.

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Dan Mazier]

If you want to take this up after the witnesses are done—

[Marcus Powlowski, Liberal, Thunder Bay—Rainy River, ON]

On a point of privilege, I think he has a point. I mean, you did recognize one of the Conservatives who wasn't a witness. We should be accorded the same ability to have a say in this matter. Otherwise, it would seem like there's some bias on the part of the chair, which is supposed to be a non-biased position.