Health Committee on Nov. 19th, 2024

[Carolyn Hoffman]

We could undertake to compile and provide a report.

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

You made it seem like you have these 700 different incidents of problems with natural health products, as you mentioned, from something like somebody reading the label incorrectly or making a mistake to your egregious claim of death. That being said, I would like to see all 700 of those reports.

This is a very serious issue. We have a government that said previously that hundreds of people have died at the hands of these products. It was never able to provide that information. That is why I'm telling you, on behalf of Canadians, to provide those details of these 700 reports. It's because it's very important information.

Will you do that?

[Carolyn Hoffman]

Thank you very much, Dr. Ellis. I should say that we regularly update and issue bulletins and newsletters on this topic.

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

I'm sorry. I'm going to interrupt you because I didn't ask you about that.

I want you to provide those reports. This is a very serious issue. Will your group, which has made these claims, provide those reports to this committee? Answer yes or no. It's a simple answer.

[Carolyn Hoffman]

Thank you, Dr. Ellis. We have a commitment and requirement around the privacy of personal information, so the specific copy—

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

I'm sorry, Ms. Hoffman. I'm going to interrupt you once again.

You have made a very serious claim against a $13-billion, often women-led industry. On behalf of Canadians—from whom we have received more information on this and more complaints about this egregious overreach than any other situation—I am asking you one more time. Will you provide the 700 incidents, or is that not a true statement?

[Carolyn Hoffman]

Thanks, Dr. Ellis. To be factual, we have received 700 reports.

I'm going to have my colleague, our privacy officer, speak to the legislative requirements that we live and work under. That makes it very important for people to trust us.

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

I'm sorry, Chair. This is ridiculous. People are making ridiculous claims and are unable to provide evidence of them. This is unacceptable in front of a committee, Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sean Casey]

We're also out of time, so if Ms. Hyland is going to be able to speak to this, it will be at the request of one of the other members.

We're going now to Mr. Naqvi, please, for six minutes.

[Yasir Naqvi, Liberal, Ottawa Centre, ON]

Thank you very much, Chair.

I want to thank the witnesses for being present today.

Before I ask them questions, I would like to move a motion. The motion was submitted to the committee on Friday in both official languages. It reads:

That, upon the tabling of the Supplementary Estimates (B) for the fiscal year 2024-25, the committee invite the Minister of Health and the Minister of Mental Health and Addictions to testify on the Supplementary Estimates (B) at the first meeting following the adoption of this motion.

[Luc Thériault, Bloc, Montcalm, QC]

I have a point of order, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sean Casey]

Mr. Thériault, you have the floor.

[Luc Thériault, Bloc, Montcalm, QC]

I have always spoken out against this practice when my Conservative colleagues use it, and I will object to it now.

I don't think it is acceptable for Mr. Naqvi to move his motion at this point in the meeting. We have serious questions to ask the witnesses, and the member's proposing this motion could lead to a discussion that completely overlooks the fact that we have witnesses here.

Mr. Chair, I therefore ask that the debate on this motion be adjourned.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sean Casey]

You can't move a motion when raising a point of order. Mr. Naqvi's motion has been moved in accordance with procedure and is in order.

I accept your criticism, but—

[Peter Julian, NDP, New Westminster—Burnaby, BC]

I have a point of order, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sean Casey]

I have a point of order from Mr. Julian.

[Peter Julian, NDP, New Westminster—Burnaby, BC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I agree with Mr. Thériault. We have witnesses and we are studying a bill that will have a significant impact, but that also has shortcomings that need to be addressed.

I would therefore ask my colleague to withdraw his motion for the time being. We can come back to it at the end of the meeting. We have two hours, and I'm afraid we won't have time to question the witnesses if we deal with the motion that has been put forward.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sean Casey]

You proposed exactly the same thing as Mr. Thériault. My ruling has not changed. It's not proper procedure to move a motion as part of a point of order.

The motion is on the floor. We'll start with that.

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

They have no interpretation.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sean Casey]

Is there a problem with the interpretation?

[Lisa Hepfner, Liberal, Hamilton Mountain, ON]

Can you hear the interpretation when I speak in French?

[The Chair, Liberal, Sean Casey]

Mr. Julian and Mr. Thériault, I suggest that you raise your hands to move motions. When you have the floor, you can move a motion to adjourn, if you wish, but now I have Ms. Sidhu and Ms. Goodridge ahead of you on the list.

Ms. Sidhu, go ahead, please.

[Sonia Sidhu, Liberal, Brampton South, ON]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Mr. Chair, I want to make an amendment to Mr. Naqvi's motion. Allow me to read it: “The committee invites witnesses, including but not limited to kids helpline, Brain Canada Foundation and U15 Canada, to testify on the supplementary estimates section (B), by no later than the end of the current supply period.”

[The Chair, Liberal, Sean Casey]

Has the amendment been circulated?

[Luc Thériault, Bloc, Montcalm, QC]

I have a point of order, Mr. Chair.