Yes.
Evidence of meeting #138 for Health in the 44th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was industry.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Evidence of meeting #138 for Health in the 44th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was industry.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Lung Association
Is that with respect to a potential amendment that would speak to the right to recall?
Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Lung Association
That wasn't part of our particular call to action, although I did hear it referenced earlier.
Our speech here today was really with respect to the impact on the nicotine products, and the potential to amend so that this did not apply to nicotine products.
Liberal
Sonia Sidhu Liberal Brampton South, ON
Ms. Patel, what are the risks associated with Bill C-368 if it's passed?
Policy Analyst, Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada
It would effectively orphan out nicotine pouches and nicotine replacement products. Right now, we regulate tobacco, cigarettes and vaping products under the Tobacco and Vaping Products Act, the TVPA, and then the NRTs, or nicotine replacement therapies, and nicotine pouches currently fall under the Food and Drugs Act. However, if natural health products are taken out of the definition, then we have no framework to regulate them under. As Dr. Moore Hepburn has repeatedly stated, these pouches are a big concern, and we want to keep these protections.
The tobacco industry is not going to stop at pouches. They're going to keep coming back with new innovative models. They'll try to, I don't know, inject nicotine into a candy apple and call it a nutrition-forward way to quit smoking. We don't want that. We want to be there to protect kids with regulations and ensure that the industry doesn't keep profiteering from nicotine addiction.
Liberal
Sonia Sidhu Liberal Brampton South, ON
Thank you.
Dr. Moore Hepburn, in addition to the concerns raised already, how would this bill impact regulations on nicotine products? Are there any other concerns you have with how this bill could affect young people?
Medical Director, Child Health Policy Accelerator, Hospital for Sick Children and Associate Professor, Department of Paediatrics, University of Toronto
Again, I am a practising pediatrician who cares for patients. Many of my patients use natural health products. The Canadian data that we have is based on a single-centre study, which has inherent limitations. Best estimates are that up to two-thirds of families use complementary health practices in some form or another. This is a huge part of our patients' lives and their families' lives, and I am not here to stand in the way of that.
That being said, I think it's important for care providers, parents and patients to have assurances that the products they buy are safe. Rare events related to safety are not unimportant events, especially if that adverse event or drug-drug interaction involves someone you love.
If there is a call to have a broader conversation about how we can best regulate NHPs, I think it's important that the medical community be at the table. I would again emphasize the importance of addressing the synthetic nicotine issue as a part of that conversation, given how Canada currently provides regulatory oversight on synthetic nicotine.
Liberal
Sonia Sidhu Liberal Brampton South, ON
Thank you.
I would like to ask Ms. Patel a question.
Nicotine products are right now classified as a natural health product, not therapeutic. If this bill passes, they will no longer be subject to Vanessa's Law. Do you have any recommendations on how nicotine products should be categorized for the purpose of regulations?
Policy Analyst, Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada
The Heart and Stroke Foundation is not too prescriptive in telling the government how they should be regulated. We just want to make sure that the regulations as they exist currently are kept in place and protected. Our concern is that the bill would revoke the existing ministerial orders that were put in place in August, which are vital in protecting kids and ensuring that these harmful products stay away from them.
Liberal
Sonia Sidhu Liberal Brampton South, ON
Thank you.
Dr. Moore Hepburn, do you want to say anything on that?
Medical Director, Child Health Policy Accelerator, Hospital for Sick Children and Associate Professor, Department of Paediatrics, University of Toronto
I would agree in terms of not being prescriptive. We prescribe lots of things, but not in this space. I do think, however, that it's useful to consider having a broader conversation about how we can approach nicotine, as there is a clear chasm between what is regulated under the TVPA and what is regulated in the Food and Drugs Act.
There are many competing and important priorities that need to be balanced and, with this new threat, we need to have our eyes open and we need to not wait and see what will happen as it takes hold in our markets.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sean Casey
Thank you, Ms. Sidhu.
Colleagues, we're now through two full rounds of questions, and we have resources to continue. I know there are some people who are going to be heading to the airport fairly shortly, and I don't want to get cut off by a motion for adjournment without raising a couple of things with you, because we're heading back to our ridings next week. There are a couple of things I need to raise with you, and then I'm happy to continue rounds of questions or entertain a motion for adjournment, as you wish.
First of all, on the opioid study, because on Tuesday we agreed to extend that study, we need to have you replenish your witness lists. Can I suggest that we have new witness lists or supplementary witness lists to the clerk of the committee by next Friday, November 15? Does that seem like an acceptable deadline?
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sean Casey
Second, in connection with this private member's bill, we are scheduled to do clause-by-clause examination of this bill two weeks from today, on November 21, so could I have the agreement of the committee to set as a deadline November 15 for amendments and the submission of briefs? Is everybody okay with the November 15 deadline?
Conservative
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sean Casey
There is a suggestion for the 19th. Can we set the deadline for briefs and amendments for November 19 at noon? Is everyone okay with that?
Liberal
Conservative
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sean Casey
Okay. The next turn goes to the Conservatives.
We have a point of order.
Mr. Julian, go ahead.
NDP
Peter Julian NDP New Westminster—Burnaby, BC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Some of us have airplanes that are already moving down the runway. What I would suggest is two and a half minutes, and then two and a half minutes, to round it off from the two parties.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sean Casey
Do you mean two and a half minutes each for the Liberals and the Conservatives?
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sean Casey
Can you keep your round to two and a half minutes, Dr. Ellis?
Okay, you have two and a half minutes. Go ahead.
