Health Committee on Oct. 21st, 2010

[Colin Carrie, Conservative, Oshawa, ON]

Are there any other comments?

I also have a question for Safe Kids Canada. First of all, I want to thank you for all the input you've had with our committee in the past.

I was wondering to what extent consumer products pose a risk of injury to children. In your view, how will Bill C-36 improve children's safety?

[Pamela Fuselli]

According to the stats we have on emergency room visits, 14,000 a year are related to children under ten. It's a fairly significant portion of the injuries that we see to young children especially.

I think what this bill will do for those injuries is get the product off the market more quickly than is currently possible and allow parents access to the information they need to make a good decision about the products they are purchasing.

If we use a precautionary principle, and a proactive instead of a reactive framework, some of those toys and products that are making it into the market perhaps will not, or at least not in the form that they currently do.

[Colin Carrie, Conservative, Oshawa, ON]

I'm glad to hear that. Around the table today we've heard that Hallowe'en is coming up, and my colleague.... I also have an eight-year-old, and we're out shopping for the different toys. A lot of Canadians will be doing that this season. I think it is important that we do what we can to get this bill put forward.

I have one more question, for the Standards Council of Canada. In your view, will the new provisions in Bill C-36, such as the ability for the minister to request test reports to verify compliance, result in a safer marketplace for consumers?

[John Walter]

Certainly. That's the easy answer.

The longer answer is that this bill will require the use of standards that are developed by consensus, bringing in a considerable amount of stakeholder input, from consumers and manufacturers and retailers. It will give the opportunity to Canada to set the stage as to where we want to be in the use of national or international standards.

The value for us would be for Canada to identify which standards we need to be at the table internationally, so that when those standards are available and ready to use we're ready to adopt them very quickly in Canada and will have the kinds of test results, the test requirements, and the guidelines set out in those standards.

It also means we end up being on that level playing field that was talked about earlier, with the United States and Europe.

[Colin Carrie, Conservative, Oshawa, ON]

Madam Fuselli, how has your working relationship been with Health Canada? Have you been able to be involved in the development of this legislation? Do you have a good working relationship?

[Pamela Fuselli]

Yes. We work very closely with Health Canada, with consumer product safety staff and with the public agency staff, in letting them know what we're hearing in terms of parents who are concerned about children and their safety and the products they're using.

We have been consulted and we have been pleased to be able to provide the type of expertise and the information that we can contribute to make this bill as robust as possible.

[Colin Carrie, Conservative, Oshawa, ON]

And the same is true for Option consommateurs?

[Anu Bose]

We have an admirable working relationship with Health Canada. I think it's something that other departments would do well to emulate. It's based on trust and mutual respect, and I would commend the minister and her staff.

[Colin Carrie, Conservative, Oshawa, ON]

I appreciate the work that you have done to help us put this forward.

[Anu Bose]

Absolutely. In fact, I think they're getting a bit sick of us.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joy Smith]

Thank you, Dr. Carrie.

Now we'll go to the second round.

I believe Dr. Duncan has something to say.

[Kirsty Duncan, Liberal, Etobicoke North, ON]

Thank you, Madam Chair. We'll have no more questions here. We've addressed the privacy and the registry. I think we've made the comment that there's unanimous consent in the House. That's all from this side.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joy Smith]

Okay, that's very good. That helps to press the bill through as quickly as possible.

Ms. McLeod, do you have any questions, or can we just press it through?

[Cathy McLeod, Conservative, Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo, BC]

I have maybe a quick comment rather than a question.

First of all, I appreciate how succinctly you were able to put your very complex presentations into three minutes. I think you all did a great job in that area.

As a nurse who worked in a rural emergency department, I remember seeing in the 1980s how many young children we saw falling down the stairs in walkers; it was quite stunning. Again, congratulations on all of that.

I think we have come to a spot where this bill is pretty well where it needs to be.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joy Smith]

Let's just double-check.

Now, I want to ask the Bloc, are you ready to wrap this up, or do we have some...?

[Nicolas Dufour, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

Everything is good.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joy Smith]

Okay. And what about the NDP?

[Glenn Thibeault, NDP, Sudbury, ON]

All good.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joy Smith]

Well, I congratulate the committee. I absolutely do.

And I thank the witnesses for coming today. I think this happens to be a very good indication.

Committee, do we have to see witnesses next day, or can we go on to clause-by-clause? Are we all in agreement to go to clause-by-clause?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joy Smith]

Thank you very much.

The committee is adjourned.