Health Committee on May 27th, 2024

[Todd Doherty, Conservative, Cariboo—Prince George, BC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

For over five hours we have had to listen to the multiple interventions of filibustering by our NDP colleague there. If you believe our colleague, he has the medication to make everything better. The NDP are the saving grace for our country, apparently. That's what Mr. Julian is saying, which I have to disagree with vehemently.

It's interesting. We're debating CPC-13, and the line is “make progress on providing universal coverage of pharmaceutical”. I believe we're probably the only party that's talking about providing universal coverage of pharmaceuticals, because Bill C-64, as we have talked about tonight, is truly only about providing access to contraception, as well as providing medication for those struggling with or living with diabetes.

It is a common-sense amendment. It's one of 43. Sadly, we only got to CPC-13 because of the interventions and the filibustering of our NDP colleague who, every chance he got, made sure.... He could not put any amendments forth to try to make this bill any better, which is deeply disappointing. I know him to be a decent man, but he sure likes to hear himself talk. I hope Canadians were paying attention to that.

There's no doubt that he will probably try to get a little bit of extra time in after I cede the floor, Mr. Chair. I'm imploring you to please.... We've had enough of his interventions. For over five hours we have had to listen to him. It's deeply disappointing, because we could have got to more of the CPC amendments. There are over 43.

I want it on the record that Conservatives rolled up their sleeves and got to work on this, while our NDP and Liberal colleagues said that they were not going to do it. All we have heard is rhetoric from our colleague down the way, who has tried to block any of the common-sense amendments that the CPC put forth in good faith.

They told Canadians in the House during debate just to trust them and they would get this bill: “Let's let Conservatives and the House pass this bill to get it to committee and we will do good work.”

Well, there was one party that came to work tonight—

[Laila Goodridge, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Cold Lake, AB]

Didn't the Bloc...?

[Todd Doherty, Conservative, Cariboo—Prince George, BC]

Yes, there's the Bloc. I'm sorry; two parties came to work. I stand corrected by my good colleague Mrs. Goodridge.

Sadly, our colleague down the way from the NDP wasted over five and half hours on this, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sean Casey]

There's a point of order from Mr. Naqvi.

[Yasir Naqvi, Liberal, Ottawa Centre, ON]

I find this so shameful. Both the Conservatives and the NDP are thinking this is some funny game. They're going on and on and back and forth as to who's filibustering while they're preventing us from doing important work.

Do you know what? A better way to spend my time would have been with my children right now, putting them to bed, as opposed to being here listening to members being foolish. That's as opposed to working on a very important piece of legislation that will help hundreds of thousands of Canadians—millions of Canadians.

That's shameful.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sean Casey]

Thank you, Mr. Naqvi.

[Laila Goodridge, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Cold Lake, AB]

I have a point of order.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sean Casey]

There's a point of order from Mrs. Goodridge.

[Laila Goodridge, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Cold Lake, AB]

That was very clearly not a point of order. I understand that Mr. Naqvi doesn't like to listen to the truth, but—

[The Chair, Liberal, Sean Casey]

Neither is what you're saying, but fortunately it is now 8:30. I shall now interrupt the proceedings.

I'll first thank our witnesses for being with us today. You are welcome to stay, but you are free to leave. We very much appreciate your being with us and hope the rest of your week goes as well as Monday evening has. Thanks again.

It being 8:30, pursuant to the order adopted by the House on Wednesday, May 22, I have now interrupted the proceedings. Please note that all remaining amendments submitted to the committee are now deemed moved.

I will now put the question forthwith and successively without further debate on all remaining clauses and amendments submitted to the committee as well as each and every question necessary to dispose of clause-by-clause consideration of the bill.

Shall CPC-13 carry?

[Stephen Ellis, Conservative, Cumberland—Colchester, NS]

Excuse me, Chair. If you really want to get through these things quickly, it's quite clear that nobody's going to vote for the CPC amendments. We're happy to vote for all of them and they can vote against them, but I'd like that recorded.

It's a bit unusual, I agree, but I'm happy to do that.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sean Casey]

Are you asking for a recorded division or are you asking that they be negatived on division?

[Stephen Ellis, Conservative, Cumberland—Colchester, NS]

I would suggest something in between that, Chair. I know that it's probably not in line with the rules, but what I would suggest—

[An hon. member]

[Inaudible—Editor]

[The Chair, Liberal, Sean Casey]

I can do it by a show of hands.

[An hon. member]

[Inaudible—Editor]

[Stephen Ellis, Conservative, Cumberland—Colchester, NS]

Can you just wait until I'm done talking?

My suggestion is—

[An hon. member]

[Inaudible—Editor]

[Stephen Ellis, Conservative, Cumberland—Colchester, NS]

Go ahead

[The Chair, Liberal, Sean Casey]

Go ahead. Do you have a point of order?

[Yasir Naqvi, Liberal, Ottawa Centre, ON]

Thank you.

I was going to say that I know that Mr. Ellis is down on his own amendments, but there may be an amendment of Mr. Ellis's that we support.

[Stephen Ellis, Conservative, Cumberland—Colchester, NS]

I'm not down on them. I'm happy to vote. I'm going to vote for all of them, but you're going to vote against them.

[Yasir Naqvi, Liberal, Ottawa Centre, ON]

You know, we give due consideration to all the amendments. There's one that may be worthy of support.

[Stephen Ellis, Conservative, Cumberland—Colchester, NS]

Okay. Well, don't say I didn't offer you the chance to put your children to bed.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sean Casey]

I think Mr. Julian wants in on the point of order.