Health Committee on June 1st, 2010

[Carolyn Bennett, Liberal, St. Paul's, ON]

Well, if the minister is coming on estimates, I think one of our biggest concerns is where the money that was previously allocated for the vaccine facility is going. I think that is one of our most urgent concerns at the moment--how that money will be applied to communities or whatever.

But I have to say that doing studies and not having a report is not necessarily a good use of our time. The fact that there would be no time for a nanotechnology report at all, just one session with a few witnesses...I think it's the weakest of the sessions that we've got scheduled to date, only because, in terms of the urgency of at least hearing and making up our own minds, as parties, on the caffeinated drinks and particularly around the alcohol drinks and the recent approval of Health Canada.

For us to find out the status of the implementation of the Weatherill report, again it's something about which we as individual parties can decide whether we liked what we heard or not.

And in terms of the consideration of the report, we had a lot of sessions on the vaccine facility. So for us to look at trying to report that back before June, I think....

As well, we are always in pandemic preparedness. I believe that we should at least hear from the department as to what were their lessons learned from H1N1, if we recall what state we were in this time last year, such that, again, as parliamentarians, we know that the learning culture has been put into place.

I think that to do a proper study on nanotechnology in the fall, with maybe two or three meetings as had been originally planned, with an ability to report back, is still my first choice.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joy Smith]

Mr. Sweet....

Oh, I'm sorry; go ahead, Monsieur Malo. You were there first, apparently.

[Luc Malo, Bloc, Verchères—Les Patriotes, QC]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

To follow up on what Dr. Bennett just said about the importance of drafting a report further to any studies conducted, I just want to point out that the committee did not produce a report after holding two meetings to consider the impact of microwaves on human health. I had indicated that it would be important to produce a report. I assume one will not be drafted this spring, but I want our analysts to know that it would be important to have a report in hand by the fall.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joy Smith]

We're going off on a lot of rabbit trails this morning.

I'd like to focus back, if we could, Mr. Sweet, with your indulgence, on motion two. If the discussion is on the motion, then I will accept a question. Other than that, let's not do anything else on that area.

Mr. Sweet, is this on the motion?

[David Sweet, Conservative, Ancaster—Dundas—Flamborough—Westdale, ON]

Madam Chair, there were a number of things on the record that, as chair of another committee, I just want to clear up. I let one of them go by, but they continued.

A comment was made regarding your leadership. Supplementary estimates are deemed to be reported back to the House after a time, because for those people who want to check the estimates to see if there's an issue, and if they check them and there isn't an issue, then they're deemed reported back. I just want to be clear on that: there was no issue on your leadership. If anything, it's the leadership of those who would be interested in the supplementary estimates.

The second thing is that there are a number of committees I'm on where we have one meeting on something that a member or members have an interest in or a large concern--in this case regarding nanotechnology--where they'd like to see if there is evidence that would surface in order to justify a broad study. That again is very common.

Lastly, the other item that's disturbing is that, as Mr. Brown said, if the whole slate is filled up by other parties.... Committees are a place where everybody is supposed to work together. If there is one issue that one party wants to look at, to have that shelved for another issue lacks fairness at best.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joy Smith]

Dr. Bennett.

[Carolyn Bennett, Liberal, St. Paul's, ON]

I do feel strongly about the ability of committees to call ministers. As you all know, I was extraordinarily disappointed that all three ministers implicated in the vaccine facility decisions refused to come.

That said, I think it would be important for the minister to come on estimates and at that time be prepared to take questions on the vaccine facility, particularly in view of the reallocation of the funds from the vaccine facility.

We can vote on this motion. I don't know what my colleagues think, but.... I don't know whether it could be done at the same meeting.

What would the clerk advise?

[The Chair, Conservative, Joy Smith]

In terms of what, Dr. Bennett, inviting the minister, or...?

[Carolyn Bennett, Liberal, St. Paul's, ON]

In this case, we would let Minister Clement and Minister Toews off for this time. We could always raise it again. I would probably withdraw the motion and support--

[Joyce Murray, Liberal, Vancouver Quadra, BC]

If we're doing estimates.

[Carolyn Bennett, Liberal, St. Paul's, ON]

As long as we have an assurance that the minister will come on estimates, I would support what Monsieur Malo has moved.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joy Smith]

Well, if the committee agrees, we can send an invitation to the minister today, but her schedule is very tight; it would have to be based on whether or not she could arrive.

Ms. Davidson.

[Patricia Davidson, Conservative, Sarnia—Lambton, ON]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

I just want to correct the record on something that Dr. Bennett said. She inferred that both the Minister of Industry and the Minister of Public Safety refused to come to this committee. I believe it was more a case that they could not come on the dates given to them, not that they flatly refused to come to this committee.

I want that on the record.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joy Smith]

Dr. Bennett.

[Carolyn Bennett, Liberal, St. Paul's, ON]

In my 13 years, if ministers cannot come on a certain date they suggest an alternate date. There was no alternate date suggested, and therefore one can only interpret that as a refusal to appear before this committee.

So I will agree to withdraw the motion, knowing that we can put it back at any time, and instead support Luc Malo's motion, suggestion, consensus of the committee, whatever it takes, to send an invitation to the Minister of Health to come to this committee on estimates.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joy Smith]

So first of all, do I have unanimous...?

Oh, I'm sorry, Mr. Brown, you had one more comment. Then I'm going to ask about the motion after that.

Mr. Brown.

[Patrick Brown, Conservative, Barrie, ON]

I have just one quick comment.

Rather than suggesting a specific date that we invite the minister for supplementary estimates, we have six meetings left. Why don't we just say whenever she is available within the next six meetings and we shuffle the meetings accordingly?

[Carolyn Bennett, Liberal, St. Paul's, ON]

That was my understanding.

[Patrick Brown, Conservative, Barrie, ON]

From June 3 to June 22.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joy Smith]

Okay, but first of all I want to deal—

[Carolyn Bennett, Liberal, St. Paul's, ON]

But it bumps nanotechnology, whenever it is.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joy Smith]

First of all, I need unanimous consent to withdraw the motion, as Dr. Bennett has suggested. Do I have unanimous consent for the motion to be withdrawn?

(Motion withdrawn)

It's my understanding that we're going to make a request that the minister come on any of those dates that she's available. So I'll put it on record that—

[Carolyn Bennett, Liberal, St. Paul's, ON]

I want it as a motion.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joy Smith]

Do you want it as a motion?

Mr. Malo, do you want to word the motion?

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!