Evidence of meeting #2 for Health in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was home.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Karin Phillips  Committee Researcher

4:55 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bill Casey

No, I don't think so either, not for what we've discussed.

Mr. Carrie.

4:55 p.m.

Conservative

Colin Carrie Conservative Oshawa, ON

Perhaps I could make a suggestion, Mr. Chair.

Don has a couple of motions, and perhaps we could deal with those. I think he has some good suggestions here as to where we could get officials. We could have a briefing for the new members just to get an overview of what Health Canada actually does. Perhaps the Minister of Health would like to come by. We could deal with those motions, and if that's the case, we have two meetings next week. The planning committee could do another meeting next week at a more convenient time. I agree with what John says, that given the great input we had today, it will probably take longer than that to make a decision on what we want to do first.

We don't want to waste time, but I think that for things that are very simple, officials can come and utilize the committee's time quite effectively.

4:55 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bill Casey

I was thinking that we'd choose a subject and then let the analysts work out a plan. Actually, if we hear from the minister, that may change our focus at the steering committee. I think it's not a bad idea that we hear from them first, if we can.

Do we know when the minister might be available?

4:55 p.m.

Liberal

Sonia Sidhu Liberal Brampton South, ON

Can we put a motion for her to come at her convenience?

4:55 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bill Casey

I beg your pardon?

4:55 p.m.

Liberal

Sonia Sidhu Liberal Brampton South, ON

Can we put a motion to have the health minister come at her earliest convenience?

4:55 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bill Casey

Yes. Would you like to move that motion?

4:55 p.m.

Liberal

Sonia Sidhu Liberal Brampton South, ON

Yes.

4:55 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bill Casey

Okay. We've moved a motion to have the minister come at her earliest convenience. How's that?

That's good.

4:55 p.m.

Liberal

John Oliver Liberal Oakville, ON

Yes, and to follow through on Don's motion that said, “to discuss and answer questions concerning her mandate letter”, I would like to add to that “and her expectations of the committee”.

4:55 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bill Casey

Excellent.

Does that cover you off, Mr. Davies?

5 p.m.

NDP

Don Davies NDP Vancouver Kingsway, BC

Yes.

5 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bill Casey

I'm sorry that we stole your motion.

5 p.m.

NDP

Don Davies NDP Vancouver Kingsway, BC

That's okay. I'm happy to have that done.

When ministers appear before committees, if they come at estimates or to discuss a mandate letter, it's always interesting. You can ask the minister almost anything, because there's what's in the mandate letter and there's what's not in the mandate letter. It's pretty broad. I think the way it's written would be broad enough to ask the minister for her expectations, but using the mandate letter as a guide for the minister and a template would help focus the discussion. I'm happy to move that, although I'd be surprised if you can get the minister here that fast.

What I would suggest is that we do meet tomorrow, and I'll tell you why.

We've had probably 20 good ideas. I think what we have to do is figure out the next three years, and we have to figure out the next three months at this point. I think all we have to do tomorrow is get a good jump, even in an hour, by picking two or three issues that we'd like to work on right away, so that we can at least give the analysts some direction. We'll have to come back to the committee, I believe, on Monday or Wednesday to make the decision to ratify the suggestion of the steering committee. That means next week is pretty much a wash, except for these other two things that I'm going to suggest in a moment.

I think we should get a start tomorrow, even if it's only for an hour. Is that okay?

5 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bill Casey

I like it. I'd like to keep moving if we can—that's my nature—but the clerk has just suggested that we could take Monday's standing committee meeting and turn it into a steering committee meeting. We could have just the steering committee meet on Monday instead of the entire committee, and that gives us two full hours and a scheduled time. Really, in an hour, the way it is, we'd only be partway into it. I like that suggestion.

Thank you, Mr. Clerk.

5 p.m.

NDP

Don Davies NDP Vancouver Kingsway, BC

I have a self-interest. I won't be here next week. I'm travelling to Vienna with Hedy Fry and David Tilson, but that's okay, because we'll have someone cover it.

5 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bill Casey

We'll just take your page and tear it out, then.

5 p.m.

NDP

Don Davies NDP Vancouver Kingsway, BC

I'll have someone cover it.

5 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bill Casey

Okay.

5 p.m.

NDP

Don Davies NDP Vancouver Kingsway, BC

Can I move the other two? I'm going to move motion number 3 on my list:

That the Standing Committee on Health formally request that the Minister of Health provide a response to the Committee on the findings of the Mental Health in Canada study completed and submitted to the House of Commons in May 2015.

5 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bill Casey

Just a second. We should deal with Ms. Sidhu's motion first. We didn't really do that.

Your motion was to ask the minister to come...?

5 p.m.

Liberal

Sonia Sidhu Liberal Brampton South, ON

Yes, at her earliest convenience.

5 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bill Casey

Okay.

Are there any questions?

Mr. Carrie.

5 p.m.

Conservative

Colin Carrie Conservative Oshawa, ON

If I could, I'll make a friendly amendment. Normally if you have the minister in front of the committee, you also have it televised. If the clerk can get a room where it's possible to televise it, that's always good.

5 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bill Casey

All in favour of the motion to invite the minister?

(Motion as amended agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])

Mr. Davies, you have your motion number 3.