Health Committee on May 4th, 2010

[Joyce Murray, Liberal, Vancouver Quadra, BC]

Sure, thank you. Since there is time, I'll take that opportunity.

We've heard again and again from some of the witnesses that mandatory makes a level playing field. If all the different places that salt is in food are going to be reduced at the same time to change people's taste, it's impossible to do that on a voluntary basis. That's what I heard from some of the expert witnesses.

The sodium working group started with the recommendations of the Institute of Medicine at the National Academy of Sciences, so it essentially didn't have to develop the levels. You're coming out with a report, so you've been using your time to develop a strategy of how to do something and by when and so on.

After the report, is the sodium working group the only major initiative of the government, and does the sodium working group continue? How do we go forward past this voluntary mechanism if the only group empowered by the federal government has those handcuffs on it? Or can the working group recommend the money that's needed to do the research and education that may not already be available, and tools such as mandatory regulation as a following step?

That's a complicated question, but I'm trying to look past this report and how we--

[The Chair, Conservative, Joy Smith]

Ms. Murray, you'll have to hurry, please.

Did someone want to answer that question?

[Dr. Mary L'Abbé]

I'll answer it partway.

I recognize our terms of reference, and one of the important aspects I think will help position us well for the future is the part of our terms of reference that calls for a monitoring program. I think that monitoring program and its publishing of the results of how we're doing will be an important component of however the government or the working group allows us to move forward. The publishing of those results and the monitoring of how things are occurring over time will be a very important component of our way forward.

[Joyce Murray, Liberal, Vancouver Quadra, BC]

So can the sodium working group, in its recommendations, recommend that government consider mandatory regulations? Even though it's not in your particular mandate, can you recommend a process to at least look at that and see whether that's the road the government should go down, or can you not use that word?

[Phyllis Tanaka]

One aspect of the voluntary prong is important to note. It's not just willy-nilly voluntary; it's a structured approach whereby we're sitting down and looking at the food categories and developing targets.

Secondly, we have built into--

[Joyce Murray, Liberal, Vancouver Quadra, BC]

Excuse me, I just want to clarify. That means no to my question about whether there is any ability of the sodium working group to use the word “mandatory” maybe in a next step after their mandate?

[Phyllis Tanaka]

Built into the terms of reference is that through implementation, when we monitor, we monitor to see if the strategy is working. And if it isn't, we are mandated to come back to the table as a working group, evaluate where we see failure, and make new recommendations.

[Joyce Murray, Liberal, Vancouver Quadra, BC]

And how many years would that be before this group could say this isn't working and they need different terms of reference?

[Phyllis Tanaka]

We're in the process of setting up target dates along the way. Right now on the table--and probably it will be sorted out at our next May meeting--2012, 2014 are likely going to be times built in when we look at what's happening, not just with the reduction of sodium but with consumer education and research to see if we're moving along the way we should.

[Joyce Murray, Liberal, Vancouver Quadra, BC]

So it could be four or more years before that's addressed.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joy Smith]

Mr. Reaman, I think you wanted to make a comment. Would you go ahead, please? We'll end it after your comment.

[Ron Reaman]

Very briefly, I want to underscore that one of the central tenets of this entire undertaking is that we are looking at a long-term gradual approach to reduce sodium for many reasons that we've already talked about and that I won't revisit.

[Joyce Murray, Liberal, Vancouver Quadra, BC]

Okay. Thank you. That's what I'm contesting. Is a long-term gradual approach really the only path?

[Ron Reaman]

We believe so.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joy Smith]

Thank you, Ms. Murray.

I'll bring this committee meeting to an end.

I want to thank the witnesses so much for coming today.

Dr. Pipe, I understand you have to rush out to catch a flight. We're very thankful for your input.

The committee is dismissed.