Mr. Chair, it's Steve Ellis.
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.
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.
4:50 p.m.
Conservative
4:50 p.m.
Conservative
Stephen Ellis Conservative Cumberland—Colchester, NS
I wonder if we have a list of whom the member's thinking of inviting. We'd like to suggest that the Minister of Health be here.
4:50 p.m.
Liberal
Adam van Koeverden Liberal Milton, ON
It's totally at the will of the committee. The minister is at our disposal. I don't think it should be limited to the minister.
In the past, this committee has had Dr. Tam join us as well. It should not be limited to any.... We've had PHAC, members of the Public Health Agency and Health Canada.
The list of officials is long. I just got briefed by the ministry last week. There are five different agencies that are all of relevance to this committee, so we should not exclude any one.
4:50 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sean Casey
I'm happy to take the responsibility of coordinating with the vice-chairs and Mr. Davies to determine exactly whom people want and make sure that we hit the ground running the first of the new year, if everyone's comfortable with that.
4:50 p.m.
The Clerk
Mr. Davies would like to intervene.
4:50 p.m.
NDP
Don Davies NDP Vancouver Kingsway, BC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I think that's a wise way to proceed.
Just for clarity, though, we should have an idea at this meeting. For sure, we should invite the minister and Dr. Tam. Beyond that, I think we can work it out, but we should be on that page.
The other thing I was going to mention is this. What was in my mind—and maybe we can do this on the Wednesday, at our second meeting—is that the meeting would be a subcommittee meeting, because each party is represented at the subcommittee. At that second meeting, we'd come with some ideas of how we're going to be proceeding in terms of studies. I had in my mind that it should be the first meeting. I'm okay with reversing that, as well, and having the first meeting back being a subcommittee meeting and then having the minister and Dr. Tam come on the Wednesday.
I'm happy if Mr. Van Koeverden wants to leave Monday for the minister. That's fine with me. I just think one of those meetings that week should be a subcommittee, so that we can start organizing our work for the new year.
4:50 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sean Casey
Yes. I think that's a good suggestion.
What we decide will be impacted by the availability of the minister and Dr. Tam, and whoever else we decide on. If we agree that the first two meetings will be a briefing and a planning session, we can take it from there.
4:50 p.m.
Liberal
Adam van Koeverden Liberal Milton, ON
I think I could also add, as the representative on the subcommittee, that I would be flexible as well, and if there's a lack of availability on Monday, for example, due to travel or some unforeseen circumstance, then we can always have that meeting first. I do think that if you want to bring business to the subcommittee meeting in terms of studies and ideas, then they should be informed by first having a meeting with the officials and, potentially, the minister as well.
But I'd also be fine with reversing them if that's the preference.
4:50 p.m.
NDP
Don Davies NDP Vancouver Kingsway, BC
If I could just respond quickly, I kind of like the idea of having the flexibility, because my experience with ministers is that they're very busy and if you go with one day for a minister, the chances are they can't make it.
If we allow the chair to have the flexibility of saying two different dates, with great respect, I don't know that.... I bet you every person in this room has at least three ideas for studies right now. I don't think anything that we hear on the Monday is going to significantly change that.
I think the flexibility is better than not.
4:50 p.m.
The Clerk
Mr. Chair, I have Mr. Powlowski and then Mr. Ellis.
4:50 p.m.
Liberal
Marcus Powlowski Liberal Thunder Bay—Rainy River, ON
I'd suggest that at the meeting we also ask for the head of NACI, the National Advisory Committee on Immunization, and the deputy minister. In their first address, I imagine they will—whether we ask them to or not—give us an assessment of our present situation with relation to COVID.
4:55 p.m.
Conservative
Stephen Ellis Conservative Cumberland—Colchester, NS
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I think the other consideration, of course, is that there's not a lot of flexibility to add meetings, and I would suggest that we need the committee meeting first. I think the other thing is that we also need to address the Auditor General's report that's recently come out. I would suggest holding a regular committee meeting before the subcommittee meeting.
Thank you.
4:55 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sean Casey
Are there any further interventions? Is there anything else to come before the meeting?
If not, just let me say thank you. I think we're off to a good start. We have a lot before us but we clearly have an engaged group that seems to have their eye on the ball, so I'm proud to be in the chair and to be part of this and I will do my darnedest to make sure that our time is used efficiently right from the hop.
Thank you so much, everyone. I hope you enjoy your time with your family and the ones you love over the next few weeks and that we come back all set to do good things for Canadians.
Is it the will of the meeting that we adjourn?
4:55 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sean Casey
Thank you. Merry Christmas and happy holidays, everyone.
The meeting is adjourned.