Absolutely.
Evidence of meeting #9 for Health in the 39th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was drug.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Evidence of meeting #9 for Health in the 39th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was drug.
A recording is available from Parliament.
12:55 p.m.
Director, Office of Patented Medicines and Liaison, Therapeutic Products Directorate, Department of Health
Absolutely.
12:55 p.m.
Conservative
David Tilson Conservative Dufferin—Caledon, ON
I have one more question. What do they mean by “reporters are not compensated”? What does that mean? Do you know what that means?
12:55 p.m.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Health Products and Food Branch, Department of Health
I don't know if that means the health care professionals who might be reporting it. I'm not sure. I think that's what they mean.
12:55 p.m.
Conservative
David Tilson Conservative Dufferin—Caledon, ON
Okay. Well, they're going to come--if they're going to say this and elaborate on this, some day I'd like the ministry people to respond to this. I don't know how we do that.
Thank you.
12:55 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Joy Smith
Perhaps, Ms. Ballantyne, we could put that question aside and see if we can get an answer to that to clarify. That's a very good question, Mr. Tilson. I'm sure the committee would like to have some...perhaps, Mr. Tilson, if you could write that up, we could pass it on and share it.
12:55 p.m.
Conservative
12:55 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Joy Smith
All right, there you go.
Do you have anything else? You have one more minute, Mr. Tilson.
12:55 p.m.
Some hon. members
Oh! Oh!
12:55 p.m.
Conservative
David Tilson Conservative Dufferin—Caledon, ON
No, I'm going to pass and give my time to Mr. Thibault.
12:55 p.m.
NDP
Judy Wasylycia-Leis NDP Winnipeg North, MB
Thank you very much.
I have a couple of questions. I still want to allow Mr. Thibault--
12:55 p.m.
NDP
12:55 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Joy Smith
If we do it quickly, we can have you, Mr. Fletcher, and Mr. Thibault.
12:55 p.m.
NDP
Judy Wasylycia-Leis NDP Winnipeg North, MB
At the same time as the committee is dealing with this process, the government is fast at work putting in place draft legislation to revamp the entire the Food and Drugs Act. In fact, at a briefing on January 24, just a couple of days ago, Ms. Ballantyne actually said that the government is pushing this through as quickly as possible.
One of the premises of that legislation, as you presented it at that briefing and as we've seen in previous attempts, is to remove the legal basis that now underlies the Food and Drugs Act, which is now a criminal law, whereby the Government of Canada has the absolute obligation to ensure that drugs and food and water and products that are on the market are safe beyond a reasonable doubt.
I'm wondering if you could tell us your timeline so we could fit that into our work. Secondly, could you give us a draft of that legislation--you obviously have one now--or some framework we could look at, so we'll know as you're proceeding with this what's on your agenda and how we can fit that into our work? We assume that is something that will be considered by the government and not used as wrapping paper.
12:55 p.m.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Health Products and Food Branch, Department of Health
Madam Chair, I'd like to just clarify that regarding the timelines for this, as we've talked about, this committee had a report. We've had a blueprint for renewal. We've had consultations over the last few years that have led us to the point we're at now, which is that this government has tabled the action plan to amend the Food and Drugs Act.
So it hasn't been a rapid evolution. This has been coming over the past few years. There's been consensus built up in this country, from every source, that this is the right direction to go in and that we need to modernize and strengthen our health and safety regime in this country.
We are currently in a 30-day consultation phase in which we're seeking input from everybody. As we all know, the legislation will make its way through the system, and I'm sure we'll be back here talking about the legislation.
12:55 p.m.
NDP
Judy Wasylycia-Leis NDP Winnipeg North, MB
Are we being included in your 30-day consultation period? Are you presenting us with your plan and asking us for advice?
12:55 p.m.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Health Products and Food Branch, Department of Health
The plan is the discussion paper that's on our website. We've talked today about the actual--
12:55 p.m.
NDP
Judy Wasylycia-Leis NDP Winnipeg North, MB
But I think there needs to be a different relationship and a different request when you're dealing with the health committee. I think we should have formally been informed of your plans at the outset, and we should have made provision for some way to actually give a submission as the health committee, if that's possible, to your plans.
In fact, Madam Chairperson, you should know that this is legislation that has been before the committee before, five years ago, ten years ago. We had a copy of it. It was Bill C-80. It was vetted, people reacted, and as a result, the government buried it. Now they're trying it again. I think we have to avoid having this sort of snuck onto the agenda, and we have to have a full clarification of what the government's plans are with respect to revamping the Food and Drugs Act.
1 p.m.
Conservative
Steven Fletcher Conservative Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia, MB
Yes.
You're more than welcome to tailor your private members' bills if you have any on this. I'd like to assure the member that the Government of Canada doesn't use wrapping paper. It's very wasteful.
The fact that this committee is looking at this issue is going to be very helpful for the government in developing whatever's being developed. The member will be very well aware that there is a parliamentary process when it comes to legislation. It's introduced to Parliament, and in the second reading there's a vote, and then there's a review, and then a third reading. That is how it's been done since Confederation. I'm sure the member doesn't want to disrupt tradition.
I think those are all my comments, Madam Chair. I'll pass it on to Mr. Thibault.