Okay.
Evidence of meeting #43 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.
Evidence of meeting #43 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.
5:05 p.m.
Liberal
Carolyn Bennett Liberal St. Paul's, ON
I think we should be able to go in camera when we ask to go in camera. The default position is open.
5:05 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Joy Smith
That's fine too.
Let's get on with the motion. Can you read your motion into the record, Dr. Bennett?
Oh, I'm sorry, Ms. Davidson.
5:05 p.m.
Conservative
Patricia Davidson Conservative Sarnia—Lambton, ON
Thank you.
I thought what we were just voting on was to have the motions open, and I think we need to. I think they definitely are. But we always do our future business in camera and I'm still in favour of doing future business in camera.
5:05 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Joy Smith
Well, Ms. Davidson, that's what I assumed, so obviously we're dealing with motions right now--
5:05 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Joy Smith
--and we'll do the motions first, and then go in camera for the future business. Thank you.
Can you read this now, Dr. Bennett?
5:05 p.m.
Liberal
Carolyn Bennett Liberal St. Paul's, ON
Yes. I move:
That the Committee hold H1N1 briefings each week on Wednesday from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.; and if deemed necessary by the Committee, extra time be allotted to hear from additional witnesses on H1N1 on the following Wednesday.
5:05 p.m.
Conservative
Colin Carrie Conservative Oshawa, ON
Yes, out of curiosity. We already have our H1N1 briefings on Wednesdays from 4:30 to 5:30. We've already discussed that. I thought we all agreed that's what we'd do. Why do we want to change it from 3:30 to 4:30? Is there any rationale behind this?
5:05 p.m.
Liberal
Carolyn Bennett Liberal St. Paul's, ON
I think that in the week previous where it got moved by votes and those... I think it's more secure to make sure that we will have an hour if it starts at 3:30. I think it can fall off the map if it's at the end of the day, based on votes.
5:05 p.m.
Conservative
Colin Carrie Conservative Oshawa, ON
That's what I wanted: based on votes...? I believe the votes are always at 5:30, or the bells start ringing at 5:30, don't they, unless it's for an opposition day or something like that?
5:05 p.m.
Conservative
Colin Carrie Conservative Oshawa, ON
Unless it's a supply vote. I don't think we're going to have any more supply, so I don't think it's relative at all.
5:05 p.m.
Liberal
Carolyn Bennett Liberal St. Paul's, ON
On two or three different occasions the bells have rung at 5:15, and all of a sudden it's the end of the questions and it's over, so I think it's really important that over this period we have the protected hour for this.
5:05 p.m.
Conservative
Colin Carrie Conservative Oshawa, ON
With due respect to the witnesses, because normally we have witnesses come from across the country for an hour sometimes, if there is a change, why don't we recommend a compromise and start 15 minutes earlier just on those days when there are votes?
I don't think we should shortchange our witnesses. Some of these people have travelled to come in front of a committee, whether it's for 45 minutes or not. On H1N1, usually they're officials and they're pretty flexible. If there is an opportunity where that happens, why don't we just start 15 minutes earlier?
5:05 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Joy Smith
I want to comment. I've just been advised that Dr. Butler-Jones cannot make it if it's changed this week, so it will be somebody else who comes.
Dr. Bennett.
5:05 p.m.
Liberal
Carolyn Bennett Liberal St. Paul's, ON
I think that would be a good idea, except that it's really not possible to be here by 3:15 in terms of scrums or the various responsibilities that we have. The reason the committee starts at 3:30 is that this is when people can get here based on the responsibilities that all of us have.
5:10 p.m.
Conservative
Colin Carrie Conservative Oshawa, ON
Madam Chair, if you look at the record, I think you'll find it's extremely rare that we would have had the votes starting a little bit earlier. I believe we have set a precedent; we did in fact start at 3:15 once. Yes, we all have responsibilities, but I think to get over here within 10 or 15 minutes is not unreasonable to show respect to witnesses that we've asked to come here from across the country. I don't think shortchanging them is very respectful of this committee. That's where I stand on it.
5:10 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Joy Smith
I know that I'm always here by almost 3:15 right now, so I know that as chair I could be here.
Dr. Bennett.
5:10 p.m.
Liberal
Carolyn Bennett Liberal St. Paul's, ON
I think the role of the opposition is different in that we often do have to be available to the media right after question period, especially during H1N1. We are having to do that as part of our responsibilities.
I think we would be prepared this week to continue as you've said, if that's the availability of Dr. Butler-Jones, but I think that for our due diligence on this committee, going from twice a week down to one hour a week is not really... I am concerned that we're not hearing from some of the people who want to come and testify on H1N1 and that we need to be better at being available to do our job as committee members.