Evidence of meeting #24 for Health in the 40th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was products.
A recording is available from Parliament.
3:45 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Joy Smith
Might I interrupt to make sure we're totally clear here? Is this reference number 3955302?
3:45 p.m.
Bloc
Nicolas Dufour Bloc Repentigny, QC
I move that Bill C-6 be amended by replacing line 31 on p. 9 with the following:
or the environment, if the disclosure of the information is essential to address the danger.
After having discussed this with Option consommateurs and the industry, we think that this amendment is helpful in anticipating a danger of this kind and in making sure that the danger really is great.
3:45 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Joy Smith
Thank you, Monsieur Dufour.
Can I have some comments from the officials?
Mr. Ethier, thank you.
3:45 p.m.
Director General, Consumer Product Safety Directorate, Department of Health
Thank you, Madam Chair.
Once again, we are in favour of Mr. Dufour's amendment. We have no concerns with it.
(Amendment agreed to)
3:45 p.m.
Bloc
3:45 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Joy Smith
I want to go through the next amendment, but first I want to go back to clause 17, because we also have new clause 17.1. Clause 17 is what we were just talking about, with all the amendments to the amendments.
Do you agree, everybody, that this clause should carry?
(Clause 17 as amended agreed to)
Now we're going to a new clause 17.1.
Monsieur Dufour, I think your new one is reference number 3955149.
3:45 p.m.
Bloc
Nicolas Dufour Bloc Repentigny, QC
Madam Chair, it is useful to emphasize this. I move that Bill C-6 be amended by adding after line 31 on page 9 the following new clause:
17.1 For greater certainty, the minister may disclose to the public information about a danger to human health or safety that a consumer product poses.
The bill is clearer with the obvious statement that the minister may communicate the information to the public.
3:45 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Joy Smith
Thank you.
Could I have comment from the officials on this one, please?
Mr. Ethier.
3:45 p.m.
Director General, Consumer Product Safety Directorate, Department of Health
Thank you, Madam Chair.
Again, we are in favour of Mr. Dufour's amendment. We have no concerns with it.
3:45 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Joy Smith
Will the committee agree with this amendment?
(Amendment agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])
(On clause 18--Designation)
There's a Bloc amendment for clause 18.
Is there a new one there, Mr. Dufour?
3:45 p.m.
Bloc
3:45 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Joy Smith
Could we have some comment from the officials, as well, after you're finished, Mr. Dufour?
3:45 p.m.
Bloc
Nicolas Dufour Bloc Repentigny, QC
Madam Chair, we had considerable discussion with representatives of the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada, with industry representatives and with Option consommateurs. They told us that the number of inspectors is a serious problem. Witnesses have often told us that there are not enough inspectors.
We all recognize the merits of Bill C-6, but there is a serious shortage of inspectors. This bill will become meaningless if there are insufficient inspectors. So it is extremely important that the bill provide for sufficient staff and inspectors.
3:50 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Joy Smith
Thank you, Mr. Dufour.
Could I have some advice from the officials?
Mr. Ethier.
3:50 p.m.
Director General, Consumer Product Safety Directorate, Department of Health
Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you, Mr. Dufour. I have no objection to the amendment.
3:50 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Joy Smith
Can we all agree with this amendment?
(Amendment agreed to)
(Clause 18 as amended agreed to)
(On clause 19--Obstruction and false statements)
3:50 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Joy Smith
There's a government amendment.
Dr. Carrie, would you speak to that one, please?
3:50 p.m.
Conservative
Colin Carrie Conservative Oshawa, ON
Yes, thank you very much, Madam Chair.
There was a minor technical amendment, a typographic error in English version, where they unknowingly put “knowingly” twice. So it's just a matter of the language. If we could change it to “hinder or make false or misleading”, I think we would be in agreement with that.