Evidence of meeting #27 for Health in the 40th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was cigarettes.
A recording is available from Parliament.
General Counsel, Legal Services Unit, Department of Health
I don't have any additional comments.
(Amendment agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Joy Smith
Thank you very much.
We now have an amendment from the Bloc. Go ahead, Monsieur Dufour.
Bloc
Nicolas Dufour Bloc Repentigny, QC
Thank you, Madam Chair.
We have seen that menthol products can be just as attractive to youth. So, we are trying to eliminate as much as possible what could lead our youth to tobacco addiction.
Conservative
General Counsel, Legal Services Unit, Department of Health
I'm sorry, Madam Chair.
Could the honorable member repeat the change, please?
Bloc
Nicolas Dufour Bloc Repentigny, QC
There is no change. This is what has been moved. We keep the amendment as is.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Joy Smith
Monsieur Dufour, could you please explain again what the amendment does? I think that's what they're asking.
Bloc
Nicolas Dufour Bloc Repentigny, QC
Madam Chair, the point of the amendment is to get rid of small cigars with menthol that can be just as attractive to youth as cigarettes with menthol and lead them to addiction. We only want to ban menthol like other flavours.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Joy Smith
Thank you.
We'd like a comment from the department. Would you comment, Mr. Glover?
Assistant Deputy Minister, Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety Branch, Department of Health
I will attempt to respond to the member's question.
I apologize for repeating myself, but I will reiterate what we have said at previous appearances. Given the amendment that has been put forward, menthol use in Canada is very different from what it is in other countries. The research we have done indicates that menthol use is actually declining. It is not something that youth view as attractive. When presented with it, they actually refuse it and prefer something else. We do not feel that it is a product that needs to be acted upon, and therefore we are not proposing action. In fact, it goes counter to some of the evidence we have.
According to our information, the use of menthol is decreasing. We believe the amendment is not in the spirit of the bill.
NDP
Judy Wasylycia-Leis NDP Winnipeg North, MB
Notwithstanding the fine arguments of Paul and his colleagues, I think it would have made sense to amend this bill to include menthol, just because it's closing one more door.
However, given our decision to pull back on an amendment that deals with a far more significant issue, for which we do have significant data--that being smokeless tobacco--in order to ensure full passage of this bill before the House recesses for the summer, I will have to vote against this amendment, even though I strongly favour it, unless my colleagues from the Bloc would be willing to withdraw the amendment in the interest of unanimous consent.
Conservative
Bloc
Conservative
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Joy Smith
Does he have the consent of the committee to withdraw the amendment?
(Amendment withdrawn)
Monsieur Dufour, thank you.
Ms. Duncan, I guess the question is moot.
(Schedule 1 as amended agreed to)
Shall the alternative title carry?