Evidence of meeting #4 for Health in the 43rd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was amendment.
A recording is available from Parliament.
3:40 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ron McKinnon
Hello everyone. I call to order meeting number four of the Standing Committee on Health.
Mr. Davies.
3:40 p.m.
NDP
Don Davies NDP Vancouver Kingsway, BC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I want to welcome back all of my colleagues. We're in committee business. I have circulated for the committee's consideration some motions that I would like to move. I know my colleagues have some as well that look very interesting.
With the motions I'm going to move today, I have a few criteria that I want to alert my colleagues to. One is that I'm looking for issues on which I think there could be broad collaboration across party lines, where I think there's interest around all sides of the table, or issues that have been identified as important to the current government, either in budgets or throne speeches—so I know there is interest on the government side—as well as issues that I think present a pressing health issue of some type. I have seven motions I plan to move. Obviously, we'll have to decide which ones we want to proceed with, in what order, and for how long. I think some of the studies can be short, some can be of moderate length, and some can be more in depth. I want to put a sample of issues for the committee's consideration.
I'll start with my first motion, which is on universal dental care. I've had a discussion with my friend, Darren Fisher, and I'm going to ask for an amendment to my motion. I'll read it into the record and then I'll tell you what my amendment would be:
That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the Committee undertake a study on the development of a national dental care program as an insured service for Canadians under the Canada Health Act; that the Committee report its findings and recommendations to the House; and that, pursuant to Standing Order 109, the Committee request that the Government table a comprehensive response to the report.
The amendment I propose is to strike the words “under the Canada Health Act”. I know that my colleagues in the Conservative Party often have a different view of whether something should be a universal, publicly delivered service or should be privately delivered. I think by removing those words it would leave it broader, as the committee would study a range of options, both public and otherwise.
3:45 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ron McKinnon
The mover of the motion can't amend it, but you can move it that way at the outset.
3:45 p.m.
NDP
Don Davies NDP Vancouver Kingsway, BC
Okay, I will move it that way then. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I'll continue for a minute. As we know, the issue of dental care was contained in the mandate letter from the Prime Minister to the current health minister. Specifically, on December 13, 2019, he directed the health minister to “Work with Parliament to study and analyze the possibility of national dental care.” That's lifted right from the mandate letter to the current health minister. It also appears in the Speech from the Throne, delivered on December 5, 2019, which stated that “ideas like universal dental care are worth exploring, and I encourage Parliament to look into this.”
Of course, we know that oral health is one of the most unequal aspects of health care in Canada. At present, about 32% of Canadians have no dental insurance at all. Those with the highest levels of oral health problems are also those with the greatest difficulty accessing oral health care costs. We know that income-related inequalities in oral health are greater in women than in men and that the most common, non-communicable diseases are oral diseases. Finally, studies have linked poor oral health to serious health conditions, including cardiovascular disease, dementia, respiratory infections, diabetic complications, renal disease complications, premature birth and low birth weight.
I plan on moving motions after this on treatment for substance use disorder, a national school nutrition program, vaping products, indigenous health, palliative care and access to cannabis for medical purposes, but I will start by moving a motion on universal dental care, as I have read it.
Thank you, Mr. Chair and colleagues.
3:45 p.m.
A voice
Mr. Kitchen.
3:45 p.m.
Conservative
Robert Gordon Kitchen Conservative Souris—Moose Mountain, SK
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Davies, for your talk.
We are very well aware of the importance of dental care and how it impacts many aspects of health care. I recognize that you amended your motion by taking out the Canada Health Act. I appreciate that.
The concern I would have is that it could take too long. Therefore, I would ask whether you would accept an amendment to it that would basically say that the committee allocate no more than six meetings to undertake the study. Then we would have a time frame for this and could control it so that we can have that avenue and it doesn't take up a lot of time, especially when you have so many other motions—and I know there'll be others out here. Then we can have time to debate a lot of the issues.
3:45 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ron McKinnon
The debate is now on the amendment, which is to limit the study to no more than six meetings.
Does that include meetings for the report as well?
3:45 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ron McKinnon
The amendment, then, is to limit the meetings to no more than six meetings with witnesses.
3:45 p.m.
Liberal
Darren Fisher Liberal Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, NS
Thanks, Mr. Chair.
I guess this question is for the clerk.
If we choose six meetings, what does that look like for a report layout as far as the time frame goes?
3:45 p.m.
Liberal
3:50 p.m.
Karin Phillips Committee Researcher
It depends on when you would like to table a report. Six meetings, starting now, would give us enough time to table a report before June. It depends on how long you want the report to be. Concluding a six meeting study now and tabling a report by June gives a sufficient amount of time for drafting.