Health Committee on Nov. 23rd, 2010

[The Chair, Conservative, Joy Smith]

We need to vote on the amendment, first of all.

Please signify, all who are in favour of the amendment, which is to take out “funding” and say:

That the Committee recommend that the federal government work with the provinces and territories to determine how best to provide Canadian Blood Services and Hema-Quebec with the support required to establish a public cord blood bank.

[Colin Carrie, Conservative, Oshawa, ON]

Let me make a quick comment, Madam Chair.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joy Smith]

Yes.

[Colin Carrie, Conservative, Oshawa, ON]

I think we even heard from the witnesses that what Health Canada is doing now is appropriate, and that's why they are.... They report to the provinces. I would like to make that comment clear.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joy Smith]

Yes, we did hear that.

Having said that, could we support the amendment to motion number 1?

(Amendment negatived)

Now we have to vote on the motion.

(Motion agreed to)

[The Chair, Conservative, Joy Smith]

Dr. Duncan, we're not going to get through motion number 2 today anyway, so take your time.

[Kirsty Duncan, Liberal, Etobicoke North, ON]

I'll read the motion and I'll ask that you report it back to the House:

That the Committee recommend that Canadian Blood Services and Hema-Quebec be encouraged to pursue all possible means to ensure wider participation in OneMatch registry, including partnership with federal and provincial governments and with the charitable sector.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joy Smith]

Are there any comments? Is there discussion?

Monsieur Malo.

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

I just want to say that since this entire sector is clearly under provincial jurisdiction, in our view, it is really up to the governments of Quebec and the provinces to put this kind of registry or bank in place. We believe that the provinces, themselves, have the ability to enact different rules regarding this type of activity.

Therefore, I will be voting against the motion.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joy Smith]

Okay, let's go to a vote.

(Motion agreed to)

We go on to motion number 3.

[Kirsty Duncan, Liberal, Etobicoke North, ON]

Again, I'll ask that you report to the House:

That the Committee recommend that Health Canada review its guidance for clinical trials, relating to cellular therapy, to ensure that Canadians will be able to access stem cell therapies in a safe and timely manner.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joy Smith]

Is there discussion or comment?

(Motion agreed to)

Next is number 4.

[Kirsty Duncan, Liberal, Etobicoke North, ON]

Again I'll ask that it be reported to the House:

That the Committee recommend that Health Canada work closely with its international counterparts to ensure that Canadians make informed decisions about the safety and efficacy of stem cell treatments not offered either in this country or in others where there is strong regulatory oversight.

(Motion agreed to)

[The Chair, Conservative, Joy Smith]

Now you have to report it back to the House.

[Kirsty Duncan, Liberal, Etobicoke North, ON]

I'll ask that it be reported back to the House:

That the Committee recommend that the federal government increase financial support for the entire continuum of stem cell research, from basic science to funding for cell manufacturing, and early phase clinical trials to globally competitive levels.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joy Smith]

Is there any discussion?

Dr. Carrie.

[Colin Carrie, Conservative, Oshawa, ON]

Again I'd like to ask for some wording changes so we can support it.

I'll go through the wording changes and give my rationale, if that's okay with the chair.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joy Smith]

Yes.

[Colin Carrie, Conservative, Oshawa, ON]

I'd like it to be changed to, “That the Committee recommend that the federal government increase support” and take out “financial”. That would encompass all the ways that Health Canada supports this.

Then we would change the final words that Kirsty originally had, “globally competitive levels”, to “ensure that Canada remains globally competitive”.

I'd like to review some rationale here. First of all, we'd like to agree that stem cell research can potentially lead to useful therapies in the treatment of health conditions and diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, diabetes, kidney failure, heart disease, and spinal cord injury. The government recognizes that clinical therapies based on the properties of stem cells have the potential to revolutionize the treatment of degenerative diseases and major traumatic injuries, thus improving the quality and length of life for Canadians.

That is why the Government of Canada has provided significant support for stem cell research through the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. For example, in 2009-10 CIHR invested approximately $41.5 million in stem cell research, which is up from $8 million in 2000. So we're already seeing a huge increase there. In Budget 2010, the Government of Canada increased the budget of CIHR globally by $16 million, so the CIHR total budget in 2010-11 will exceed $1 billion. This financial commitment signals the importance that the government places on all health research, including stem cell research, for its contribution to improved health for Canadians. Even Dr. John Akabutu mentioned that's where he thought the priority should be going from the federal government.

The Government of Canada, through CIHR, will continue to support the Canadian researchers who are increasing our understanding of stem cells through their work and will build on the findings of the international research community to promote the development of stem cell therapies.

Finally, it's important to note that CIHR is actively working at enhancing Canada's clinical trial capacity through its recently launched strategy for patient-oriented research. Once implemented, this strategy will help address key infrastructure and research environment needs that include large-scale clinical trials--which is what we heard today--so that Canadian researchers may better identify and tackle these health gaps.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joy Smith]

We're running out of time.

Mr. Malo, should we save this until the last day, or can we finish this? Can you very quickly give me your ideas?

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

Yes, I can be quick.

I just wanted to say that, in 2008, the Québec Court of Appeal ruled on the validity of challenges to the Assisted Human Reproduction Act, deciding that research and clinical trials were not within the federal domain. I will spare you the exact quote, but I would remind you that the court made that ruling and that the matter is now before the Supreme Court of Canada.

Therefore, we will be voting against the fifth recommendation.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joy Smith]

We're going to vote on the amendment so that it reads:

That the Committee recommend that the federal government increase support for the entire continuum of stem cell research, from basic science to funding for cell manufacturing, and early phase clinical trials to ensure Canada remains globally competitive.

(Amendment agreed to)

[The Chair, Conservative, Joy Smith]

Let's vote on the motion as amended.

(Motion as amended agreed to)

Thank you so much. We will go on to future business on Thursday.

The meeting is adjourned.