Evidence of meeting #3 for Health in the 39th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was report.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rob Merrifield
Sonya has helped out with the wording here. Sonya, could you read it out? I think this might give consensus.
Sonya Norris Committee Researcher
It reads as follows: “That the Standing Committee on Health ask the Minister of Health not to make a decision regarding the sale of silicone gel breast implants in Canada”.
Conservative
Conservative
Steven Fletcher Conservative Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia, MB
The motion needs to be in compliance with the Food and Drugs Act. The information provided to me on that wording is that it wouldn't be consistent, but I understand the intent here, so I wonder if we could adjust the wording to keep the status quo and then have the minister come to our committee to hear what the committee has to say.
Conservative
NDP
Penny Priddy NDP Surrey North, BC
If the status quo is the moratorium, then I don't know why we could not be all right with the word “moratorium”, which is what I would be supporting. If that is currently where we are, that would make it the status quo; therefore, the word “moratorium” still fits.
Conservative
Steven Fletcher Conservative Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia, MB
We do have departmental officials in the room. If it's the will of the committee, we could have them clarify the.... I think we're losing something in the translation in what the word “moratorium” is. If I understood the translation...what I read here and what I'm hearing are slightly different, and it's an important difference.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rob Merrifield
I'm not sure anyone in the room wants to speak to this.
Mr. Dhaliwal.
Liberal
Sukh Dhaliwal Liberal Newton—North Delta, BC
Mr. Chair, the moratorium is that you set up a deadline, meaning that until such date, you cannot do something. That's what it is, so if we're all trying to say let's just continue with this until and unless, I think we should take a vote on it.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rob Merrifield
Mr. Fletcher, just hang on.
All we're really trying to do.... I think the hang-up here is “maintain the moratorium”. A moratorium isn't really what's there. It's actually a licensing--that's the way you get it--but it means the same thing. We're going in circles; it's just a recommendation to the minister, so it's not a big problem.
Conservative
Conservative
Conservative
Steven Fletcher Conservative Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia, MB
Yes, it is a point of order.
The information I have is that the word “moratorium” is not accurate. We have Dr. Sharma here in the room. As an expert in this area she can clarify what the special access program is and help us--
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rob Merrifield
Excuse me, Mr. Fletcher.
I'm going to put that to the committee first. Do we want to hear from the department on this, or do we want to make a vote on the agenda?
I'm hearing most people want to vote. I don't necessarily have a problem with that.
Mr. Batters, quickly.
Conservative
Dave Batters Conservative Palliser, SK
This is descending into a major confab, which I don't think it has to be. I think Mr. Fletcher's intention is quite clear.
The only thing we want to clarify here is the wording. The phrase “maintain the moratorium on the sale of silicone gel breast implants”, to my understanding--as I read that and as a Canadian would read that--means you cannot buy a silicone gel breast implant in this country.
If that is indeed the case, then the wording is fine. But if you can buy a silicone gel breast implant right now, we need to change this wording.
Conservative
Dave Batters Conservative Palliser, SK
So which is it? Can you buy one, or can you not buy one right now?
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rob Merrifield
You can buy it under special licensing at the present time, and that's the only hang-up that I think we're having with the wording--to clarify what is actually happening at the present time. I think we're splitting hairs to some degree, because I don't know if it's going to make an awful lot of difference on the intent of things. We had a friendly amendment, I thought.
Are we staying with that? Not make a decision until...would you be fine with that as a mover?
Conservative
Committee Researcher
It states: “That the Standing Committee on Health ask the Minister of Health not to make a decision regarding the sale and licensing of silicone gel breast implants....”
Bloc
Nicole Demers Bloc Laval, QC
It's not only the sale; it's the licensing--those six demands for licences from INAMED and Mentor. That's what I don't want to happen before we have a chance to review the information and make sure it's safe for women. Right now we have no handle on it at all.