Health Committee on Nov. 24th, 2016

[Len Webber, Conservative, Calgary Confederation, AB]

We're here today to make these changes. To me I think it's already gone through the legal draft work, and now we're changing basically perhaps even the scope of the bill. If that's the case, then I think it would be inadmissible to make these changes.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bill Casey]

Mr. Oliver.

[John Oliver, Liberal, Oakville, ON]

I'm more worried about the exclusion of the other advocacy groups from the conference. I do agree with Ms. Harder's comment about the 180 days. The Alzheimer Society of Canada is not going to change its name in 180 days. It's different from the other, so I'm wondering if the friendly amendment could be to add “and representatives from other dementia advocacy groups” at the end of that. It would be “the Alzheimer Society of Canada, and other Alzheimer advocacy groups, and other forms of dementia advocacy groups”.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bill Casey]

I think that makes it better.

Mr. Ayoub.

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

The intention that I see is only to include, not exclude. So I'm asking very humbly the members opposite on the committee.... We did work very well, and we still want to work very well to improve the bill. The intention is to improve, not to change the bill. You can see that. I think John is doing a great job just to include the parties. I don't want to get into the legal kinds of things. There are no legal things; there is only intention.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bill Casey]

This has nothing to do about legal. It's a matter of being inclusive.

Dr. Carrie, you're up.

[Colin Carrie, Conservative, Oshawa, ON]

I would like to have a technical question answered for me. In subclause 3(2) where it says “conference”, the last sentence says “for the purpose of developing the national strategy referred to in subsection (1).” Let's go back to subsection (1). Now the short title, so clause 1, that's not subsection (1). It's going into 3(1), correct? Is that what we're referring to?

[The Chair, Liberal, Bill Casey]

Subsection (1), yes. He's talking about the last sentence right there, and it refers to 3(1). What's your comment?

[Colin Carrie, Conservative, Oshawa, ON]

It is 3(1) that we're referring to there, right? We're in 3(2), but the last line in 3(2), John, says, “for the purpose of developing the national strategy referred to in subsection (1).” I just wanted to clarify that is what we're referring to there, 3(1). Now that's been clarified.

Mr. Chair, would you be so kind as to give us a couple of minutes to discuss something among ourselves?

[The Chair, Liberal, Bill Casey]

Sure, and you make a good point because I think subclause 3(1) supports the proposed amendment.

[Colin Carrie, Conservative, Oshawa, ON]

That's what I would like to have clarified. Can you give us a break for a second?

[The Chair, Liberal, Bill Casey]

We'll take a short break.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bill Casey]

Let's continue.

Dr. Eyolfson, you're up next.

[Doug Eyolfson, Liberal, Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia—Headingley, MB]

My point speaks to what I said before about agreeing with Alzheimer's advocacy groups.

One of the problems that might come up is, what if this society were to change its name or if it were to cease to exist? What would that do to that; whereas, if you just leave it as general “Alzheimer advocacy groups and other dementia groups”, that takes care of that potential complication.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bill Casey]

I shouldn't be giving the argument here, but the argument is that this is a one-shot deal 180 days from now, and I think that's where the concern is lessened dramatically.

Dr. Carrie.

[Colin Carrie, Conservative, Oshawa, ON]

First of all, I want to thank the clerk for clarifying what we were talking about, and I thank my colleagues.

We don't have a problem if you want to add...if we have unanimous consent. We have to go back to clause 3, and I don't know if the NDP is okay with that, and then add “other dementia advocacy groups” there. That would be fine with us.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bill Casey]

Can we read out the exact amendment?

[Olivier Champagne]

My understanding is that, starting on line 17, it reads:

and other care providers, people suffering from dementia as well as representatives from the lay advocacy sector, the Alzheimer Society of Canada, other dementia advocacy groups, and other Alzheimer advocacy groups,

[The Chair, Liberal, Bill Casey]

Is there any debate?

Yes, Ms. Harder.

[Rachael Thomas, Conservative, Lethbridge, AB]

Can I simplify that further? It would just read simply, on line 19:

the Alzheimer Society of Canada and other dementia advocacy groups

[The Chair, Liberal, Bill Casey]

I think I see nods everywhere, so can we replace that?

Mr. Webber.

[Len Webber, Conservative, Calgary Confederation, AB]

If I can change that, I would have,

the Alzheimer Society of Canada, and other Alzheimer advocacy groups, and other dementia groups, for the purpose of developing the national strategy

[The Chair, Liberal, Bill Casey]

That just puts the words in different places.

[Len Webber, Conservative, Calgary Confederation, AB]

There is more than one advocacy group for Alzheimer's, so we need to include them as well as the dementia groups.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bill Casey]

All right, now we're going to go with Mr. Webber's last suggestion, and I'm going to seek unanimous consent to change—