Evidence of meeting #85 for Health in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was sugar.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Manuel Arango  Director, Health Policy and Advocacy, Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada
Joanne Lewis  Director, Nutrition and Health Eating, Diabetes Canada
Benoît Lamarche  Chair in nutrition, Université Laval, As an Individual
Clerk of the Committee  Mr. David Gagnon

5:25 p.m.

Liberal

John Oliver Liberal Oakville, ON

Yes, thank you, Mr. Chair.

We've had a fair bit of discussion about the work agenda of the committee, and different proposals have been put forward. I thought I'd formalize it a bit. In the motion, I'm going to be recommending that we finish the work we already have on our plate, as you just referenced, on pharmacare. It's been almost two years since we identified a list of topics that we would like to work through. There are still some left—home care, palliative care, blood and organ donations—but I thought maybe the subcommittee should meet again to identify those projects and any others that have come up since it's been two years, really, since we did it, and then we would come back to the committee with a report from the subcommittee. My motion is consistent with that. I move:

That the Committee's work agenda be, in order, the following:

1. the consideration of a draft report and recommendations related to its study of the development of a national pharmacare program;

2. the consideration of a draft report and recommendations related to its study of antimicrobial resistance;

3. finishing the study and consideration of a draft report and recommendations related to its study of Canada’s Food Guide; and

4. the consideration of any legislation that is referred to it at that point of time; and

and that the Chair convene a meeting of the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure at the first available opportunity in 2018 during the regular Committee timeslot to discuss and plan other future work of the Committee with a report to be tabled at the following regular Committee meeting.

5:30 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bill Casey

Mr. Davies.

5:30 p.m.

NDP

Don Davies NDP Vancouver Kingsway, BC

Thanks, John.

I'm just wondering, do you have a meeting in mind for that subcommittee meeting?

5:30 p.m.

Liberal

John Oliver Liberal Oakville, ON

It would be our first, unless it conflicts with the date you just proposed for pharmacare.

5:30 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bill Casey

The meeting on January 29.

5:30 p.m.

Liberal

John Oliver Liberal Oakville, ON

When's our first meeting after we come back? We're meeting on the Monday and Wednesday.

5:30 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bill Casey

Is January 29 our first day?

5:30 p.m.

NDP

Don Davies NDP Vancouver Kingsway, BC

That's why I ask, because there appears to be a conflict.

5:30 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bill Casey

We're going to be meeting on Mondays and Wednesdays when we come back.

5:30 p.m.

Liberal

John Oliver Liberal Oakville, ON

Is the 29th the first Monday we're back?

5:30 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bill Casey

It's the first day.

5:30 p.m.

NDP

Don Davies NDP Vancouver Kingsway, BC

Do you want the HESA subcommittee that day or do you want pharmacare that day?

5:30 p.m.

Liberal

John Oliver Liberal Oakville, ON

It would be nice to get a work plan sorted out, but it would be nice to get back to debating pharmacare as well, so maybe we should do pharmacare, but then the following meeting would be....

5:30 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bill Casey

I think we should get a crack at pharmacare first, but I do think this is important because we are directionless right now. So let's....

5:30 p.m.

Liberal

John Oliver Liberal Oakville, ON

At the first available opportunity as we work on the pharmacare study, we have a one committee break to do our work plan at subcommittee.

5:30 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bill Casey

Mr. Davies.

5:30 p.m.

NDP

Don Davies NDP Vancouver Kingsway, BC

May I make one suggestion while I still have the floor?

The first Monday back is the first day we'll be back with our staff. I would suggest we have the subcommittee on the Monday and then let's get at the pharmacare report on the Wednesday. That would give us all a couple of days to work with our staff.

5:30 p.m.

An hon. member

What time are our meetings?

5:30 p.m.

NDP

Don Davies NDP Vancouver Kingsway, BC

Would that matter?

5:30 p.m.

Liberal

John Oliver Liberal Oakville, ON

That's why we propose the Monday, because we're all scrambling. Members are getting back.

5:30 p.m.

NDP

Don Davies NDP Vancouver Kingsway, BC

Yes, I'm in favour of that. Yes, let's do pharmacare on Wednesday.

5:30 p.m.

Liberal

John Oliver Liberal Oakville, ON

Do the subcommittee on the first Monday and start pharmacare on the Wednesday.

5:30 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bill Casey

All right, that's fine with me.

Mr. Berthold.

5:30 p.m.

Conservative

Luc Berthold Conservative Mégantic—L'Érable, QC

Mr. Chair, I will not try to request a study again, but I would like to get a copy of the motion in French, so that I can know what we are being asked to vote on.

5:30 p.m.

Liberal

John Oliver Liberal Oakville, ON

I think we're working on a translation.