Health Committee on June 12th, 2014

[Terence Young, Conservative, Oakville, ON]

Is it the biggest change in 50 years or 20 years? Fifty years? Thank you. I guess I don't have to say that it was a long time coming, but it has been a long time coming for all of us.

The act, when it becomes law once we get through this process, will be a modernized regulatory act. It will be a world leader, if not the world leader. The concern would be that this section would basically have the people working at Health Canada in constant review mode. In other words, they'd be spending more time on reporting than on administering the act. There's nothing to prevent the committee, the minister, or anyone asking the bureaucrats to produce a report for Parliament at any time. We just don't think it's necessary to put it into the act.

[The Chair, Conservative, Ben Lobb]

Are there other thoughts or comments?

Ms. Davies, do you have any other comments?

Seeing no further debate, I'll call the question on amendment NDP-9.1. All those in favour?

(Amendment negatived [See Minutes of Proceedings])

That deals with the proposed clause 13.1. We'll move directly to clause 14.

(On clause 14—Subsections 6(2) and (3))

Mr. Wilks.

[David Wilks, Conservative, Kootenay—Columbia, BC]

Thank you, Chair.

I move amendment CPC-11.

[The Chair, Conservative, Ben Lobb]

Mr. Young?

[Terence Young, Conservative, Oakville, ON]

On a point of order, because there are two separate items on this sheet, I'm wondering.... We voted on the amendment. Did we also vote that it carry? Or is that it? That's all?

[The Chair, Conservative, Ben Lobb]

For clause 13—

[Terence Young, Conservative, Oakville, ON]

Oh, it was defeated. It's all right. Okay. We're on clause 14. That's my mistake.

[The Chair, Conservative, Ben Lobb]

Yes, my understanding from the legislative clerk was that because amendment 9.1 was defeated that—

[A voice]

Thirteen was adopted before.

[The Chair, Conservative, Ben Lobb]

I'm sorry. Was your question on clause 13.1 or 13...?

[Libby Davies, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

No. Did we adopt clause 13 overall? We did? Okay.

[The Chair, Conservative, Ben Lobb]

Yes, when we did the “shall clauses 7 through 13 carry?”, we lumped them all together. Okay?

So everybody's good? Thank you.

On clause 14, Mr. Wilks, you moved amendment CPC-11?

[David Wilks, Conservative, Kootenay—Columbia, BC]

That's correct.

[The Chair, Conservative, Ben Lobb]

Okay. Are there any comments? Is there any debate on amendment CPC-11?

Seeing none, I will call the question.

(Amendment agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])

That's the only amendment for clause 14. Shall clause 14 carry as amended?

(Clause 14 as amended agreed to)

(Clause 15 agreed to)

At this point, we're through the bulk of it. We're just going to go through the title, the preamble, the short title, etc. If you have any questions, put your hand up, but it should be pretty straightforward.

Shall the short title carry?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Chair, Conservative, Ben Lobb]

Shall the preamble carry?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Chair, Conservative, Ben Lobb]

Shall the bill as amended carry?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Chair, Conservative, Ben Lobb]

Shall the chair report the bill as amended to the House?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Chair, Conservative, Ben Lobb]

Shall the committee order a reprint of the bill as amended for use of the House at report stage?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Chair, Conservative, Ben Lobb]

That concludes Bill C-17.

Mr. Young, did you have a point?

[Terence Young, Conservative, Oakville, ON]

Chair, I just want to take half a second to thank the members of the opposition, both Liberal and NDP, for supporting the bill, especially Madam Davies, who has done a lot of work on the bill.

I also want to thank the Health Canada officials who are here today and who have worked on this. One gentleman here today has worked on this concept and bill for 14 years.