Health Committee on May 28th, 2019

[The Clerk]

I think there could probably be a more informal way. My only point is that sending a message to the other chamber would be the prerogative of the House of Commons, but I think there may be a more informal way, perhaps through the chair's writing a letter as instructed by this committee. That would be a decision of this committee.

[Don Davies, NDP, Vancouver Kingsway, BC]

That was my motion, to write a letter, and I don't think it's us sending a letter to the chamber. It's authorizing.... Mr. Ouellette's motion was a good substantive motion, but it didn't really have an action, and so, to give action to the substance of that motion, which we all agree with, I think we need to deliver that message.

I think it should be by a letter signed by you on behalf of all—

[The Chair, Liberal, Bill Casey]

I think a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.

Mr. McKinnon, I believe you're first.

[Ron McKinnon, Liberal, Coquitlam—Port Coquitlam, BC]

It sounds as though Mr. Davies' motion might be out of order, but I would suggest we issue a press release and the Senate will get the message.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bill Casey]

Mr. Ayoub.

[Ramez Ayoub, Liberal, Thérèse-De Blainville, QC]

I would be a little softer than that. I think a letter or email to all the senators would do the job, just to let them know.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bill Casey]

All right.

Ms. Gladu.

[Marilyn Gladu, Conservative, Sarnia—Lambton, ON]

I would say that anyone in the country or anyone in the world can write letters or emails to the senators, and so I don't see a reason that we should not be able to do so, either send them each one or send one in general.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bill Casey]

Mr. Ouellette's motion used the parliamentary terminology that we would “send a message”, but we're going to get the message to them, I think.

Mr. Webber, did you have your hand up?

[Len Webber, Conservative, Calgary Confederation, AB]

Yes. I absolutely would appreciate a letter coming from the chair, with perhaps all our names on it, just indicating and reconfirming the support for this bill.

I did in fact write to all the senators as well, just requesting them to get this through, saying that it's important. I got some good response back. As I indicated earlier today, there are some political games being played there that I don't think they should be playing with this particular bill, and some other ones too—yours, Bill, as well.

To send a letter from the committee through you would be fantastic.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bill Casey]

We'll analyze this to find out the best way, but we have a motion on the floor from Mr. Davies.

(Motion agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])

We'll find a way to do this and get out the strongest message, because we all believe in it. We believe it will save lives, and it's being held up.

All right, we'll suspend for a minute so that we can go in camera.

[Proceedings continue in camera]