Health Committee on Dec. 4th, 2007

[Jim Ball]

I am unable to respond to the question of who got to us; however, in terms of the rationale for the policy approach, I would ask Mary to reiterate.

[The Vice-Chair, Liberal, Lui Temelkovski]

I'm sorry, there isn't any time left. We'll have to move on to Mr. Brown. Maybe in Mr. Brown's time.... Or we'll see what we can do at the end.

Mr. Brown.

[Patrick Brown, Conservative, Barrie, ON]

Mr. Fletcher is going to take the questioning.

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

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I'm glad this committee is just as exciting as the next one.

I know the member for Winnipeg North was not on the committee when we were looking at the issue of obesity. I again encourage the member to go to page 23, where it says: “The committee understands that trans fats do not in themselves contribute to the obesity problem; however, they want to emphasize that these fats substantially aggravate the health implications of overweight.”

Trans fats are a very important problem, and that's why, as health critic, I co-wrote that motion with the member for Winnipeg Centre.

The member is concerned about conspiracy theories and who got to whom, perhaps having spent too much time in front of The X-Files and looking for black helicopters flying all over the place.

What really happened is that the minister listened to all the stakeholders, including the Heart and Stroke Foundation and the co-chair of the task force on trans fat, and came up with a solution that will meet the goals of the Trans Fat Task Force and that has the endorsement of the Heart and Stroke Foundation.

I don't hear the other members—

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

On a point of order, Mr. Chairperson, I think it's very important for this committee that we don't put the words of the Heart and Stroke Foundation...and don't distort their commitment. In fact, we recognize that the Heart and Stroke Foundation was very critical when the government failed to implement the task force recommendations for mandatory regulations.

[The Vice-Chair, Liberal, Lui Temelkovski]

Ms. Wasylycia-Leis, that's a point of debate.

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

In fact, I was at the trans fat announcement with the minister and with Sally Brown, the CEO of the Heart and Stroke Foundation, and they were very happy that progress had been made on the trans fat file. I think Canadians appreciate the thoughtfulness of industry having been given time to get its act together. Products that could be used as a substitute for trans fats are being developed as we speak, and in two years or in a year, from now, if industry hasn't made appropriate progress, then there will be regulations, just as the Heart and Stroke Foundation wishes and as Canadians wish.

I think the government has done an outstanding job on that issue and has fulfilled its obligations in recommendation 4.

[The Vice-Chair, Liberal, Lui Temelkovski]

Hopefully there is a question coming.

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

My question is for Mr. Ball. Do you agree that the government has followed through on its commitments?

[Jim Ball]

What I can say is that the government has clearly not been silent on the issue of trans fats. It has taken this committee's recommendation into consideration as well as that of the task force, looked at the situation with respect to industry progress, and has acted to introduce a policy approach that would provide for mandatory regulation within a two-year period if in fact industry does not comply with the recommended trans fat levels in their food products.

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

Is that by 2010 that we might see something? Instead of 2008, we're looking at having just delayed the whole--

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

Does she have the floor?

[The Vice-Chair, Liberal, Lui Temelkovski]

Ms. Wasylycia-Leis.

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

I'm sorry.

[The Vice-Chair, Liberal, Lui Temelkovski]

Madam Bennett, you have one minute. In one minute we'll go around to each party. It can be a statement or question.

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

I just hope that the government side understands that the job of parliamentarians is to hold the government to account. This is a weak report. We want commitment.

We know this is a complex issue. We know that it will never be solved in one department, and our recommendation 8 said that we would identify a lead department or agency. The response calls it the “health portfolio”. There is no mention of definitive plans or new initiatives.

I want to know if there is a deputy minister committee on childhood obesity. This is the first generation of kids that won't live as long as their parents. How are you coordinating between Health Canada, the Public Health Agency, CIHR, Finance, Indian and Northern Affairs, Sport Canada? Is there an interdepartmental committee, and has the Minister of Health ever met with the ministers of the other areas in order to deal with this or in formulating the response to this committee?

[Jim Ball]

It's a very important comment, and we are clearly taking action on this. As I mentioned in my remarks, the Public Health Agency of Canada has created a new directorate with the capacity to address obesity as a core priority along with its work in addressing the socio-economic determinants of health and--

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

Is there an interdepartmental committee on this?

[Jim Ball]

There is not as yet, but we are setting the stage with capacity to do that. We have brought all the players together initially in the health portfolio. We have just established a DG-level committee that's actually meeting this Thursday in order to coordinate our efforts on this issue.

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

I have just one quick question. Will the issue of childhood obesity be on the agenda for the FPT meeting next week with Minister Clement, in that this is also interjurisdictional? Is childhood obesity on the agenda for that meeting?

[Jim Ball]

I'm not sure if it's specifically on the agenda for that meeting, but as I mentioned, it was on the agenda for a recent deputy ministers meeting from all different stakeholders to address the issue of unhealthy weights in general, including in children.

As well, I would like to say that we are moving toward the engagement of and have developed a plan for the engagement of other federal departments--

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

To be clear, Jim, it means the minister hasn't met with his cabinet colleagues and has not talked to the provincial colleagues about this issue.

[Jim Ball]

He has asked us to speak with senior officials--

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

But he has not done it himself.

[Jim Ball]

--and then he will do that.