Government Operations Committee on June 20th, 2011

[Leona Aglukkaq, Conservative, Nunavut, NU]

Thank you. I appreciate your comments.

What we're trying to do here is address two things. As I said before, there is a public safety aspect and abuse, illegal activity associated with this program. We've heard the concerns of municipalities, provincial leaders, police officers. We need to address those. We cannot continue to not address the public safety aspects of this program that have been raised. It puts other people at risk of harm.

The consultation that I announced Friday will be talking to Canadians to receive feedback, and if you have constituents who want to present, they're more than welcome to do that. I'm seeking input from Canadians in terms of how we can better balance patient needs and at the same time ensure we are addressing the public safety aspects that have been raised by organizations--fire departments, police officers, and Canadian municipalities--across the country. The consultations will take place over the summer months, and I'm looking forward to receiving that feedback to see how we can address some of this.

Thank you.

[The Chair, NDP, Pat Martin]

You still have about 30 seconds, if you have a quick question, Alexandre.

[Alexandre Boulerice, NDP, Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, QC]

In your presentation, you said you wanted to invest $27 million in mental health resources. In the constituency I am representing, Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, the lack of mental health resources is a priority health matter.

Can you tell us what the $27 million actually means for ten provinces and two territories in terms of helping people who are affected by those illnesses?

[The Chair, NDP, Pat Martin]

Can we have a quick answer, please?

[Leona Aglukkaq, Conservative, Nunavut, NU]

Very quickly, it was our government that introduced the Mental Health Commission of Canada. We invested $130 million to establish that organization. The work of the commission is to work with the provinces and territories to put forth recommendations on areas that we can concentrate on to improve mental health services across the country.

They will be coming forward with their recommendations by 2012 for us to move forward, but in the meantime, we work with the provinces and territories that deliver health care on a number of initiatives. Recently I made an announcement of $27 million targeted to address the mental health issues of children. That's in partnership with community stakeholders and governments across the country. I was very pleased to make that announcement, the first of its kind that is really addressing the needs of youth with mental health issues.

Thank you.

[The Chair, NDP, Pat Martin]

We will go to the Conservatives. Kelly Block.

[Kelly Block, Conservative, Saskatoon—Rosetown—Biggar, SK]

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.

And thank you, Minister Aglukkaq and members from the department, for being here with us this morning.

As a member of Parliament from Saskatchewan, I want to extend a special welcome to both Glenda Yeates and Dr. David Butler-Jones, both individuals who have served Saskatchewan very well in the past and are now serving our country in very similar capacities. It's good to see you here again.

Despite the comments of the chair, we here on the government side of the table are very pleased to have you here at committee today to give us the opportunity to have a dialogue with you and health officials.

As a newly appointed member to the health committee, I am very much looking forward to learning more about many of the initiatives you and the department have begun to put in place. I am very interested in the plans and priorities as reflected in the estimates and in the budgets going forward.

Today the new Canada Consumer Product Safety Act is coming into force. I'm wondering, Minister, if you could tell us how this act will better protect the health and safety of Canadians from hazardous consumer products.

[Leona Aglukkaq, Conservative, Nunavut, NU]

Thank you, and I appreciate your comments and feedback.

It actually took four attempts in the House before we were able to pass the consumer product safety legislation in December in the Senate.

As parents we make the assumption that when we walk into a store, products on the shelves are safe. Going into this role, as a mother, learning that we have 40-year-old legislation that does not protect children from harmful products, as an example, was a concern to me. The act we introduced and passed will give the government stronger and more.... This is modern legislation. The previous legislation was 40 years old.

Now, for the first time, we have the power to recall unsafe products from the market or off the shelves. The Canada Consumer Product Safety Act also increases industry's responsibility regarding the safety of the products they sell in Canada. It requires the industry to report incidents to Health Canada so we have a better monitoring system across the country. And it's in the interest of industry, in my view, to ensure that the products they do sell are safe as well, so they'll be working with us closely.

My department, in the last year, has been communicating with retailers and industries across the country to educate them on the new legislation. And I'm very pleased to be able to say that the legislation comes into force today.

Thank you.

[Kelly Block, Conservative, Saskatoon—Rosetown—Biggar, SK]

Thank you.

I just want to follow up on the question of the previous speaker in regard to the Mental Health Commission of Canada that you referenced, and you didn't have very much time to expand on that. Would you be willing to tell us just a little bit more about the steps our government is taking to promote positive mental health for Canadians, especially for children and youth?

[Leona Aglukkaq, Conservative, Nunavut, NU]

Thank you for that.

Since our government came into force, as I stated before, we introduced the Mental Health Commission, the first of its kind in Canada, to address and improve the quality of life of Canadians dealing with mental health challenges.

In Budget 2007 we committed $130 million to create the commission, which will be going forward with recommendations on areas to address, by 2012, in partnership with researchers in provinces and territories that deliver health care. An additional $110 million was provided to the commission in 2008 for research projects for homelessness and mental health.

But we also recognize that there is an area for youth where we need to start addressing early diagnosis of youth with mental illness and start putting in place better support systems for their families, school teachers, and whatnot. So this is early diagnosis and working with children with mental health problems throughout their lives, as opposed to when they're homeless or incarcerated or when they get into trouble. We're trying to focus on the prevention aspect of it, which is why I was so proud to announce the $27 million of mental health projects our government has invested, which will deal with children's needs and youth needs. The focus is on children between the ages of six and twelve, and we're working with parents, school teachers, health care providers, and community partners in terms of how we will deliver these programs across the country. Basically that will build on the recommendations that will be coming forward through the Mental Health Commission that we are establishing in Canada, so this is a significant investment.

[The Chair, NDP, Pat Martin]

Minister, I'm sorry to interrupt you--

[Leona Aglukkaq, Conservative, Nunavut, NU]

Thank you.

[The Chair, NDP, Pat Martin]

--but you're well past the five minutes. Thank you.

Just before I go to the NDP, perhaps I could clarify something.

In your opening remarks, Kelly, you said that notwithstanding what the chair says, we think you're welcome here. Nothing the chair said should be taken that the minister is not welcome here. We're pleased the minister is here.

Alexandre Boulerice, five minutes, please.

[Alexandre Boulerice, NDP, Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

First of all, I would like to take a few seconds to thank the minister for being here with us this morning, since I had no time to do so in the 30 seconds I was given earlier. We appreciate it.

My question is about Vancouver; that's where we were yesterday. A recent study published in the British medical journal The Lancet has showed that the Vancouver supervised injection site was giving good results and was making real progress possible. It works, since there was a 35% drop in overdose cases for people with drug addiction problems in the Downtown Eastside. I was in this neighbourhood this past weekend. It is shocking and brutal to see.

A recent study from Quebec has also showed that a similar site in Montreal, which is unfortunately now closed, had not caused any disturbance in the area. So these sites are not under attack for security reasons.

If these methods are working and they are an effective weapon against substance abuse, making it possible to avoid senseless deaths, why does the minister or the federal government insist on wanting to close Insite in Vancouver?

[Leona Aglukkaq, Conservative, Nunavut, NU]

Thank you.

Our government is committed to addressing the issues related to illicit drug use in Canada. That is why we created the national anti-drug strategy, which focuses on reducing; preventing the use of drugs in the first place; treating those with drug dependencies; and combatting the illicit production and distribution of drugs. Our government also invested $11.8 million specifically for the Vancouver downtown east side and an additional $2 million to improve addiction services within aboriginal communities.

As the member may be well aware, this matter related to Insite is before the courts at this time. We'll wait until that process is completed before I comment any further.

Thank you.

[The Chair, NDP, Pat Martin]

You have about two and a half minutes, Alexandre.

[Alexandre Boulerice, NDP, Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, QC]

Madam Minister, we prescribe many drugs in Canada. These are drugs for adults, but they are too often administered to children. In addition, there is no control over the dosage for children or the effects the medication has on them.

An article published recently in the Canadian Medical Association Journal has pointed out that Health Canada does not ask pharmaceutical manufacturers to do clinical trials of prescription drugs for children. Health Canada also does not require that the trials conducted by pharmaceutical companies in other countries be disclosed, which would give very useful information on the use of those drugs and their effects on children.

In the United States, the Pediatric Research Equity Act forces pharmaceutical companies to carry out these types of trials for drugs intended specifically for children.

Why does the Minister of Health not follow the example of the United States and force pharmaceutical companies to give out information that is crucial to the health of children across the country?

[The Chair, NDP, Pat Martin]

Minister, you have about one minute for your response.

[Leona Aglukkaq, Conservative, Nunavut, NU]

Thank you.

I'm going to ask the deputy minister to elaborate on the work that's being done internally to address this type of issue.

Glenda.

[Glenda Yeates, Deputy Minister, Department of Health]

Thank you very much.

Mr. Chair, the member raises a very important question in terms of, as we approve drugs, understanding as much as we can about the impacts on different groups. We at Health Canada have been very concerned about the pediatric issue the member has raised. We have in fact an expert group that has been looking at the issue and giving us advice. We have been working with the Canadian council of academies of sciences to get some of their advice as well.

It is a topic under active consideration--namely, what is the best way to make sure that as we deal with the labelling issues, as we advise both health providers and individual Canadians, we're able to have the best possible science information, not only for the general population but also for subpopulations, including the pediatric population?

So we're very pleased to have the question. We are very seized with looking at what is the best approach and how we can improve the information and the labelling requirements. That's something we are looking at currently.

Thank you.

[The Chair, NDP, Pat Martin]

That concludes your time, Alexandre.

Peter Braid.

[Peter Braid, Conservative, Kitchener—Waterloo, ON]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Minister and officials, for being here this morning.

I would like to begin with a question about the medical marijuana access program. I would like to follow up on some of the questioning that was submitted by the official opposition and bring some clarity to the announcements that were made on Friday.

Minister, you mentioned that you and your department will be embarking on a consultative process over the course of the summer. Is it not fair to say the changes that were announced on Friday, which have a focus on public safety, were themselves made after extensive consultation with municipal officials, public safety officials, firefighters, and police officers? Is that correct?

[Leona Aglukkaq, Conservative, Nunavut, NU]

Yes, that would be correct.

[Peter Braid, Conservative, Kitchener—Waterloo, ON]

The changes that were announced on Friday have a focus on public safety and will not affect access.

[The Chair, NDP, Pat Martin]

Minister.