Health Committee on March 15th, 2012

[Chloé O'Shaughnessy, Procedural Clerk]

The main difference from our perspective is that, as it's written in the bill, they would be giving this function to a pre-existing body already within the Government of Canada, whereas the amendments that were proposed, NDP-1 and Lib-1, would involve the establishment of a distinct body separate from that, and that's where we run the risk of an infringement on the—

[Libby Davies, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

What about the subamendment, though? Because I wrote “within”.

[Chloé O'Shaughnessy]

It's the same problem. We're just not clear what exactly would be necessary to establish it, even within the Mental Health Commission. The words “establishing and creating a separate body” is where our concern is. The concern is that we're not sure what finances would be required.

[Libby Davies, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

Okay. Sorry.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joy Smith]

That's okay. Thank you.

Is there discussion on amendment Lib-2?

[Hedy Fry, Liberal, Vancouver Centre, BC]

I want to say that Mr. Albrecht actually approved this one.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joy Smith]

We'll vote on the amendment.

(Amendment negatived)

Who would like to speak to NDP-2?

Go ahead, Dr. Morin.

[Dany Morin, NDP, Chicoutimi—Le Fjord, QC]

I move that Bill C-300, in Clause 2, be amended by replacing lines 17 to 22 with the following:

(ii) supporting and enhancing information systems to disseminate information about suicide and suicide prevention, including improvements to federal-provincial surveillance systems so that current statistics about suicide and related risk factors are available to the public,

The federal government has a fine opportunity with Bill C-300 to become a leader in suicide prevention, on both the national and international levels. If the Government of Canada exercised its role as coordinator and worked with the provinces to help everyone in psychological distress, it would be a very good idea.

This amendment would therefore be one way of strengthening the bill, which is basically very good.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joy Smith]

Thank you.

Mr. Strahl.

[Mark Strahl, Conservative, Chilliwack—Fraser Canyon, BC]

Thank you, and thank you, Dany.

I think if we parse the wording here, we run the risk of requiring additional funds. I see “improvements to federal-provincial surveillance systems”. I don't know what that means. I can see that it would require additional funds. I see “enhancing information systems”. My concern would be that we would once again be in a royal recommendation situation.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joy Smith]

Mr. Morin.

[Dany Morin, NDP, Chicoutimi—Le Fjord, QC]

I would like to have the opinion of the legislative clerk on this, please.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joy Smith]

The clerk has no problem with this particular one.

(Amendment negatived)

[The Chair, Conservative, Joy Smith]

We'll go to Lib-3.

[Hedy Fry, Liberal, Vancouver Centre, BC]

I think this mirrors very much what the NDP brought out, which was subsequently defeated, so I will remove it.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joy Smith]

You'll withdraw it.

We'll move on to NDP-3.

[Anne Minh-Thu Quach, NDP, Beauharnois—Salaberry, QC]

I move that Bill C-300, in Clause 2, be amended by adding after line 19 on page 2 the following:

(ii.1) disseminating information about the determinants of health, including economic status — social environment and access to health services — as risk factors for suicide,

We discussed this in the Standing Committee on Health with the representative of the Mental Health Commission of Canada. He said that there were elements that really affected people with regard to suicide. People are not born equal. If we can find out about the causes that may lead to suicide and act on them, we have a better chance of reducing risk factors and thus suicide.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joy Smith]

Thank you.

We'll go to Dr. Carrie.

[Colin Carrie, Conservative, Oshawa, ON]

You're talking about, first of all, disseminating information. You would also have to collect it. You'd be looking at the “social environment and access to health services”. For access to health services, you would have to look into provincial jurisdiction, because we all know that the provinces are responsible for supplying and delivering health services. I think this would cause problems, perhaps, when you're putting it forward, with the provincial understanding of what the federal government is trying to do. I think we'd be safe just to leave this one out.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joy Smith]

Thank you.

Mr. Strahl.

[Mark Strahl, Conservative, Chilliwack—Fraser Canyon, BC]

I also think we're already doing much of this through Health Canada's framework, so I would think it would be redundant to put it in this bill as well.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joy Smith]

Ms. Davies.

[Libby Davies, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

I don't think it's redundant at all. I think it strengthens that clause. This clause is already talking about disseminating information about suicide, including information concerning its prevention. So I think it strengthens it to include information we already know about. It's not something you have to gather. There are studies. Information is available. It's a matter of getting information out to the public, out to different organizations, and including a broader framework about determinants of health.

So I think it helps strengthen the bill and makes us better understand that people's social determinants--the environment they live in, whether they're homeless or living on welfare and having enormous stress and anxiety--are all socio-economic factors that contribute to suicide risk and its prevention. So I think it helps strengthen the bill, and I hope the members might support it.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joy Smith]

Thank you.

Dr. Morin.

[Dany Morin, NDP, Chicoutimi—Le Fjord, QC]

In view of what my Conservative colleagues have said, that is, that they are afraid this requires a royal recommendation, I would like to ask the legislative clerk whether this amendment does actually require a royal recommendation.