Evidence of meeting #1 for Health in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was chair.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Clerk of the Committee  Mr. Naaman Sugrue

3:35 p.m.

The Clerk of the Committee Mr. Naaman Sugrue

Honourable members of the committee, I see a quorum.

I must inform the members that the clerk of the committee can only receive motions for the election of the chair. The clerk cannot receive other types of motions, cannot entertain points of order nor participate in debate.

We can now proceed to the election of the chair.

Pursuant to Standing Order 106(2), the chair must be a member of the government party. I am now ready to receive motions for the chair.

Go ahead, Mr. Jowhari.

3:35 p.m.

Liberal

Majid Jowhari Liberal Richmond Hill, ON

Yes, I'd like to nominate MP Sean Casey, please.

3:35 p.m.

The Clerk

It has been moved by Mr. Jowhari that Mr. Casey be elected as chair of the committee.

Are there any further motions?

It has been moved by Mr. Jowhari that Mr. Casey be elected as chair of the committee. Pursuant to the House order of Thursday, November 25, I will now proceed to a recorded division unless there is obvious consent.

I declare the motion carried and Mr. Casey duly elected chair of the committee.

Mr. Casey, I invite you to take the chair.

3:35 p.m.

Some hon. members

Hear, hear!

3:35 p.m.

Bloc

The Chair (The Chair (Charlottetown, Lib.)) Bloc Luc Thériault

Thank you very much, Mr. Clerk.

Thank you to Mr. Jowhari for moving my nomination and for the other committee members not insisting on a standing vote. I'll do my best to be impartial, efficient and polite to one and all. Thank you so much.

Mr. Clerk, I believe that normally the next step is for the election of vice-chairs.

3:35 p.m.

The Clerk

Yes, Mr. Chair. You've anticipated correctly.

Pursuant to Standing Order 106(2), the first vice-chair must be a member of the official opposition. I am now prepared to receive motions for the first vice-chair.

3:35 p.m.

Conservative

Stephen Ellis Conservative Cumberland—Colchester, NS

Mr. Chair, I'd like to nominate Luc Berthold for the vice-chair position.

3:35 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Sean Casey

Thank you.

3:35 p.m.

The Clerk

It has been moved by Mr. Ellis that Mr. Berthold be elected the first vice-chair of the committee.

Are there any further motions?

Seeing none, it being moved by Mr. Ellis that Mr. Berthold be elected the first vice-chair of the committee, I will now proceed to a recorded division unless there is obvious consent.

I declare the motion carried and Mr. Berthold duly elected first vice-chair of the committee.

3:35 p.m.

Some hon. members

Hear, hear!

3:35 p.m.

The Clerk

Pursuant to Standing Order 106(2), the second vice‑chair must be a member of an opposition party other than the official opposition.

I'm now prepared to receive motions for the second vice‑chair.

3:35 p.m.

Liberal

Marcus Powlowski Liberal Thunder Bay—Rainy River, ON

I'd like to nominate my friend Luc Thériault.

3:35 p.m.

The Clerk

It has been moved by Mr. Powlowski that Mr. Thériault be elected as second vice‑chair of the committee.

Pursuant to the House Order of Thursday, November 25, 2021, I'll now proceed to a recorded division, unless there's clear consensus.

(Motion agreed to)

I declare the motion carried and Mr. Thériault duly elected second vice‑chair of the committee.

Mr. Chair, we are in your hands.

December 13th, 2021 / 3:35 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Sean Casey

Thank you, Mr. Clerk, for your excellent work. I also want to thank you for sending me some notes to start the meeting. I'll read them now.

Welcome to meeting number one of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Health.

Today's meeting is taking place in a hybrid format, pursuant to the House order of November 25. Members are attending in person in the room and remotely using the Zoom application.

Regarding the speaking list, the committee clerk and I will do the best we can to maintain a consolidated order of speaking for all members whether they are participating virtually or in person.

I'd like to take this opportunity to remind all participants to this meeting that taking screenshots or photos of your screen is not permitted.

The proceedings will be made available via the House of Commons website.

Given the ongoing pandemic situation, and in light of the recommendations from public health authorities, as well as the directive of the Board of Internal Economy on October 19 to remain healthy and safe, the following is recommended for those attending the meeting in person. First, anyone with symptoms should participate by Zoom and not attend the meeting in person. Second, everyone must maintain two-metre physical distancing, whether seated or standing. Everyone must wear a non-medical mask when circulating in the room. It is recommended in the strongest possible terms that members wear their masks at all times, including when seated. Non-medical masks, which provide better clarity over cloth masks, are available in the room. Everyone present must maintain proper hand hygiene by using the hand sanitizer at the room entrance. Committee rooms are cleaned before and after each meeting. To maintain this, everyone is encouraged to clean surfaces such as the desk, chair and microphone with the provided disinfectant wipes when vacating or taking a seat.

As the chair, I will be enforcing these measures for the duration of the meeting, and I thank the members in advance for their co-operation, although I admit it will be challenging for me to enforce these measures from my basement in Charlottetown.

Moving on to other business, I would now like to suggest as the next order of business that the committee now proceed to considering our routine motions. In preparing for this, the committee clerk has circulated a list of routine motions that the committee adopted in the last parliamentary session. The committee clerk can also answer any questions you may have about the routine motions.

If it is the will of the committee, I'm prepared to entertain the first routine motion.

3:40 p.m.

Bloc

Luc Thériault Bloc Montcalm, QC

Mr. Chair, I want to bring up a technical issue.

The sound is so loud in the room that I have trouble hearing the interpretation in my earpiece.

Is it possible to find a balance that doesn't involve you losing your lovely voice?

3:40 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Sean Casey

That's a reasonable request.

I'll keep my voice down a bit, if that helps.

Mr. Thériault, is it a little better when I'm speaking more softly?

3:40 p.m.

Bloc

Luc Thériault Bloc Montcalm, QC

That's much better, Mr. Chair. Thank you.

3:40 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Sean Casey

Okay. I need to speak less enthusiastically then.

I'm now ready to entertain the first routine motion.

3:40 p.m.

Liberal

Adam van Koeverden Liberal Milton, ON

Mr. Chair, if it would please the committee, I would read the routine motions.

3:40 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Sean Casey

Mr. van Koeverden, go ahead.

3:40 p.m.

Liberal

Adam van Koeverden Liberal Milton, ON

Concerning the analyst services, I move:

That the committee retain, as needed and at the discretion of the Chair, the services of one or more analysts from the Library of Parliament to assist it in its work.

3:40 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Sean Casey

You've heard the motion. Is there any discussion?

Seeing none, are we ready for the vote?

All those in favour of the motion as presented, please indicate by a show of hands. I suppose, Mr. Clerk, is probably the best way to go, unless a recorded division is required.

3:40 p.m.

The Clerk

Mr. Chair, unless it is unanimous or on division, it would be a recorded vote.

3:40 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Sean Casey

All right.

3:40 p.m.

The Clerk

Around the table, I'm seeing that it seems to be unanimous.