Health Committee on Nov. 20th, 2007

[The Chair, Conservative, Joy Smith]

I'd be very happy to do that. We'll set it aside for December 13.

Moving on to the next agenda item, I will remind you that the minister will be appearing before committee at 9 a.m. on Thursday, November 22. That's for the supplementary estimates. Of course, senior officials from Health Canada and PHAC will be joining us as well. Briefing notes will be prepared for members and will be distributed shortly.

We will now go into the motions. The clerk will distribute the one on mandatory adverse event reporting, and we'll discuss that first.

Yes, Mr. Thibault.

[Robert Thibault, Liberal, West Nova, NS]

Is there a series of motions that we're looking at? The only one I've seen circulated was the one I presented that I've submitted.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joy Smith]

Yes, there are a series of I believe four motions. Would you like to have them all prior to our talking to them?

[Robert Thibault, Liberal, West Nova, NS]

Yes. Are we debating those motions today?

[The Chair, Conservative, Joy Smith]

Yes. We don't need 48-hour notice because it's committee business. So we'll maybe distribute all of them.

Would you like all of them, Mr. Thibault? Would you like all of them at once, then?

[Robert Thibault, Liberal, West Nova, NS]

Yes, please.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joy Smith]

We'll distribute them all at once and then we'll discuss them.

Yes, Mr. Thibault.

[Robert Thibault, Liberal, West Nova, NS]

I'd like to notify you as the chair that I have additions to the motion I've presented. I have three other areas of study that I'd like to be considered. I didn't know that we were doing it by way of motion today, or looking at the list of things to study that would be discussed by the chair and the vice-chairs and the executive committee, in looking at the priorities.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joy Smith]

What we're going to be doing now is go into the motions of the future business so that all can be discussed today.

These are Mr. Fletcher's motions.

[Robert Thibault, Liberal, West Nova, NS]

I will have three further motions that haven't been circulated that I will be making today.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joy Smith]

That's fine. Absolutely.

Yes, Madame.

[Christiane Gagnon, Bloc, Québec, QC]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

If we want to suggest what studies would be a priority and future business for the committee, it should not be presented as a motion, should it? We do not usually do so through a motion.

We just discussed that.

We let each person have their say.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joy Smith]

That is very true. We can do both. I checked with the clerk as the motions came to the table. We can discuss the motions. We can also discuss other things. So all discussion will be put forward today, there's no problem.

Madam Bennett.

[Carolyn Bennett, Liberal, St. Paul's, ON]

I think there is a problem in that we, I think, as a committee have decided on how to do studies, how to do work plans, by consensus. The idea of being presented with four motions to do with the work of the committee is completely out of order. This isn't the way we make decisions at this committee.

We need a steering committee meeting. We need to decide on a work plan by consensus.

I mean, just voting yes or no.... What if we vote yes for all of these? What the hell are we going to do then?

[The Chair, Conservative, Joy Smith]

Thank you, Ms. Bennett.

Mr. Fletcher.

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

If I may, the intent was that each government member had an idea of what they wanted to look at. But maybe the way to look at the motions is as more of a suggestion of something that we can discuss and talk about. I have been in discussion with your health critic about some areas wherein we think the committee could do really good work. I think that one refers to the superbugs, and there are natural health products, there's post-market surveillance. There are a lot of issues I think we can all agree on.

I hope, Madam Bennett, that we can do this by, as you say, consensus. There are some suggestions here. Why don't we consider...? I'm sure there is a lot of commonality, based on previous discussions with your members.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joy Smith]

Next is Mr. Tilson.

One moment; the clerk informs me that Mr. Fletcher hasn't moved the motions yet, they've just been distributed. So he can't withdraw them without moving them.

You'll all get a chance to speak, just be patient.

Mr. Tilson....

Excuse me, Ms. Bennett, please give everyone a chance to speak. Everyone will get their turn. We have the list here.

Mr. Tilson.

[David Tilson, Conservative, Dufferin—Caledon, ON]

Madam Chair, I'm a new boy to the committee. It's good to be here. I assume that all members will have topics they wish to put forward. They may be agreed with by some and opposed by others.

I have no idea what your procedure is. I assume that somehow there will be a list of topics and under some process we will agree what's first and what's last and we'll muddle through that. I don't know whether the list is going to be long or short, but I guess I'm interested in hearing how we're going to put these topics forward. I gather it's being suggested by motion. I don't think it really matters as long as we have a list somehow as to what we're going to talk about and then we'll decide what's first. I don't think this is a big deal.

That's a question to you, Madam Chair.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joy Smith]

Thank you, Mr. Tilson. I will try to answer that.

Number one, the clerk apologizes; there needed to be Mr. Fletcher's name on the motion.

There are two things under consideration today. Because it's committee business, motions do not need 48 hours. Also, we will put down anything, to have a list. This is a discussion period. Everyone will have a chance to provide input.

Some people have decided to put it down in motion form so that you have something in front of you to read as well. Others, as Mr. Thibault has said, have suggestions, and he might put that down in a motion at a further meeting. This is a time when we will discuss very carefully--

[David Tilson, Conservative, Dufferin—Caledon, ON]

Madam Chair, I'm still asking the question. If someone makes a motion for a particular topic, you have to deal with that before you can deal with the next topic.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joy Smith]

I know.

[David Tilson, Conservative, Dufferin—Caledon, ON]

Am I correct that the ultimate aim is to have a list of topics?

[The Chair, Conservative, Joy Smith]

You are correct.

[David Tilson, Conservative, Dufferin—Caledon, ON]

How are we going to do that?

[The Chair, Conservative, Joy Smith]

This is what we're going to have under discussion right now. No motion has been moved. It's just been distributed a few minutes ago. We're going to have this discussion right now. We are going to compile a list. I must point out that there has been dialogue going between the health critic and the parliamentary secretary as well.

This is what's on the table at this point.

Madam, I think you're next; following that it's Mrs. Davidson....

Oh, I'm sorry, Mr. Fletcher.