Evidence of meeting #24 for Health in the 41st Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was women.
A recording is available from Parliament.
10:30 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Joy Smith
Okay. We will suspend for two minutes only.
Please reconvene now. Are we set to go?
Do they still need a couple of minutes? I'm just looking at the time. I'd hate to say the committee held this—
10:35 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Joy Smith
No, we have ten minutes now, Ms. Davies. We're on Ottawa time.
Dr. Fry, you know that everything is being considered very carefully.
10:35 a.m.
Liberal
Hedy Fry Liberal Vancouver Centre, BC
Yes, I know, but the term “clearing house” really concerns me, because it's been in recommendations and reports coming out of this very committee--“recommends a clearing house be set up”. It's a common term.
10:35 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Joy Smith
Yes. It's not that so much as whether or not you establish it. There's another parameter there.
10:35 a.m.
Liberal
Hedy Fry Liberal Vancouver Centre, BC
But the word “establish” wasn't used, so I would like to speak to the cost of this.
10:35 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Joy Smith
Okay, I'd like to bring the committee back now, because I think we can go on with this.
Mr. Brown, you're up next.
10:35 a.m.
Conservative
Patrick Brown Conservative Barrie, ON
Thank you, Madame Chair.
The interpretation we're receiving is that.... I know we all use the term “clearing house” in a more innocent manner, but the legal interpretation of the term “clearing house” would require a royal recommendation.
I'm not comfortable with putting any risks or red flags on the bill that would stop it at this point. I know Ms. Fry's intention is a good one, and I appreciate what she's saying. I just don't want to take any risks that would diminish this bill at the last minute. But I think the idea is something we can achieve.
10:40 a.m.
Liberal
Hedy Fry Liberal Vancouver Centre, BC
Thanks, Patrick.
I just wanted to say that what is missing from your bill is the best practices. You've got data, you're putting in sharing information through the Canadian breast cancer screening initiative, and you're putting in other things, but you don't have any best practices here. One of the most important things is if you put it in, we can leave it with the Canadian breast cancer screening initiative, or we can put it into the already established public health portal for best practices. We can just put it in there.
It isn't going to incur any costs. It's not as if you're establishing a clearing house from scratch. It's not as if you're creating a brand-new vehicle. You're using a vehicle that's already there.
10:40 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Joy Smith
Dr. Fry, there is a solution here. I would just like to present it to you.
I understand your intent. However, because of the confusion that has happened here and because of the red flag about a possible royal recommendation, you can submit your idea at report stage, when it's in the House. That would not hold the bill up. You could still do it that way, if you would like.
10:40 a.m.
Liberal
Hedy Fry Liberal Vancouver Centre, BC
Well, except if it's going to be voted down, there's no point. I mean, I'm just trying to be helpful here--
10:40 a.m.
Liberal
Hedy Fry Liberal Vancouver Centre, BC
--to say that there is a missing piece. We heard that from the witnesses. There is a missing piece here and I was just trying to plug that missing piece.
I'm not married to any one model of doing it or any words for doing it. I just want to plug in best practices. If somebody can find the words that will make that happen, it will strengthen Patrick's bill—it won't weaken it—and it will fill in the little piece that's missing.
10:40 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Joy Smith
Well, perhaps you could work in collaboration with Mr. Brown at report stage.
10:40 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Joy Smith
As you know, we have five minutes, and we have to get through the clauses, so this committee has to make a decision.
10:40 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Joy Smith
If we want to get this bill to the House of Commons—if indeed everyone supports this bill—we have to get this show on the road and make sure we do it.
Do you have another amendment?
10:40 a.m.
Conservative
Mark Strahl Conservative Chilliwack—Fraser Canyon, BC
I would ask Ms. Fry to formally withdraw this amendment so that we could consider it at a different time.
