Health Committee on Feb. 14th, 2008

[The Chair, Conservative, Joy Smith]

Let's go on to our other order of business.

We have a problem to solve together before we adjourn today. This problem is that the minister would like to join us for the discussion on the organ donor criteria issue. He is available to come on the 11th and the 13th, but we have organized the organ donor criteria for March 4. It is impossible for the minister to be here that day. He is open on March 11 or March 13 to join us as well. I was wondering if I could get the consensus of the committee to move the organ donor criteria to either the 11th or the 13th and switch the post-market surveillance. We're not losing anything; it's just to accommodate the minister. Some of you have said you would like the minister to come, and he has offered to do that.

Mr. Thibault.

[Robert Thibault, Liberal, West Nova, NS]

I'm very pleased the minister wants to join us, and we should accommodate him. This is the way I suggest we do it.

On March 4, we should have our meeting on organ donors exactly as we had planned and we should make an hour available to the minister within that meeting the next time he is available. We'll deal with him alone. He is never going to be part of a panel.

I think this Parliament is a bit stale-dated. There is a great chance there will be an election this spring. There are three non-confidence motions on the books now, and we expect more. I think to put it off for two or three weeks puts it at great risk that we will not deal with it. Some might even suggest it might be the desire of the minister. So we'll make sure he's not confused and we'll deal with it on March 4 and have the minister come later.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joy Smith]

With all due respect, I don't think that's the objective. We want to get this done.

Mrs. Davidson.

[Patricia Davidson, Conservative, Sarnia—Lambton, ON]

I didn't have my hand up.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joy Smith]

Mr. Fletcher.

[Steven Fletcher, Conservative, Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia, MB]

First of all, I'm shocked that Mr. Thibault just called an election.

I think it would be best to have the witnesses there at the same time to get the full flavour of the issue. If there are counter points of view, we'll be able to hear them all at once.

I can assure you that the conspiracy situation Mr. Thibault is suggesting is not the case. It is a genuine conflict on the 4th.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joy Smith]

Mr. Temelkovski.

[Lui Temelkovski, Liberal, Oak Ridges—Markham, ON]

I'm not clear on this. Do you want the minister to be part of the organ donor panel? Does he have any expertise in this matter? Does he have more organs to donate than anybody else? My understanding of his expertise is that he's closing hospitals rather than anything else.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joy Smith]

From what I can gather from the clerk's office, I think he wanted to come at the last 45 minutes to answer any questions after the presentations.

We could, at your will, put it on the 11th or the 13th, whatever you wish. It's his offer, and it's strictly the will of the committee. As you know, the minister has really made himself available for everything we've wanted.

Ms. Wasylycia-Leis, please.

[Judy Wasylycia-Leis, NDP, Winnipeg North, MB]

Thank you.

I like Mr. Thibault's suggestion. I think we should go ahead with the hearings as scheduled. We have a lot of witnesses ready to go on this issue.

In fact if we can get the Canada Safety Council or whatever—I forget the name of the organization that sets the protocol—we'll be just as far ahead in terms of understanding why this happened. We can deal with the minister at some future date.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joy Smith]

Ms. Wasylycia-Leis, you want the Standards Council. Is that what you're referring to? Okay. Thank you very much.

Mr. Thibault is next and then Mr. Fletcher.

[Robert Thibault, Liberal, West Nova, NS]

I reiterate that we're pleased to have the minister if he wants to come on the 11th or the 13th, but I don't see any reason that he has to get the same time as the panel of experts we're asking on the 4th. We've set it up, so let's go ahead with our schedule. On the 4th we'll have the panel of experts, and on the 11th or 13th the minister can respond and make his announcements.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joy Smith]

Mr. Fletcher.

[Steven Fletcher, Conservative, Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia, MB]

It makes sense to have the minister here with the panel so it's all together. Moreover, the election will be in October 2009, Mr. Thibault.

I think the minister is being very accommodating. I think we should have them together on the 11th, 12th, or 13th.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joy Smith]

If we are going to make the suggestion, I would like a motion to come forward one way or the other.

Mr. Thibault actually suggested it, so Mr. Thibault, please go ahead.

[Robert Thibault, Liberal, West Nova, NS]

I move that we maintain our schedule on March 4 and that we invite the minister, at his availability, to come to the committee to deal with this matter.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joy Smith]

Now we are going to take it to a vote.

(Motion agreed to)

[The Chair, Conservative, Joy Smith]

It is my understanding that we're going to go ahead with the organ donor criteria and all the witnesses. Then we're going to bring the minister in on the 11th or 13th. That is agreed.

The meeting is adjourned.