Evidence of meeting #1 for Health in the 45th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was clerk.
A video is available from Parliament.
Liberal
Maggie Chi Liberal Don Valley North, ON
Thank you, Chair.
I was wondering whether we could deal with the routine motions first, before delving into the conflict of interest motion that was just proposed on the floor.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry
It's on the floor already, Ms Chi. I'm sorry. Let's deal with it and get rid of it.
Doug, would you like to speak to it?
Liberal
Doug Eyolfson Liberal Winnipeg West, MB
Yes. I'm in favour of the concept, but I'm wondering whether we need to draft a motion with more detailed frames of reference so that we can look this over in the meantime, because right now there's no strict definition of what this is, as Mr. Strauss said. What does this entail? Is it financial? Is the conflict of interest due to associations?
There might be a little too much that we would have to define before we move on this, so I would be in favour of delaying this motion until a more detailed motion with more detailed frames of reference could be brought in.
Bloc
Luc Thériault Bloc Montcalm, QC
I want to try to clarify certain things, if possible, in response to the questions asked.
Clearly, some groups are invited because they represent a group of companies. This has already happened. I could name a few examples. We're well aware that these witnesses come to us representing their members and their companies, which have an interest in the matter. That's not an issue.
Sometimes, for example, we decide to invite an expert witness in a given field. Unless I'm mistaken, the witnesses invited by the Standing Committee on Health have a strong enough sense of ethics that they would declare any conflict of interest or special interest in the matter up front.
When we invite expert witnesses, such as researchers, we're well aware that the research funding comes from the government. Do they have a conflict of interest if they're complacent about the government party or the government bill? We won't succeed if we try to provide a definition.
We can agree to ask the individuals if we feel the need to do so. For example, if I'm concerned about a conflict of interest, I'll ask the individual involved. At that point, it will be clear. Let's do this rather than start making a definition and trying to determine whether a specific case fits it. After all, our committee isn't the ethics and conflicts of interest committee.
We can come to an agreement on the process. If a committee member has a concern, the member can ask the question at the start. Madam Chair, you could even ask witnesses at the start, before their opening remarks, if they wish to declare a conflict of interest to the committee members. Regardless of whether the answer is yes or no, we'll then move on to the opening remarks.
I think that it should work this way.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry
Doug, I don't want us to spend too much time discussing this. We can do this in greater detail at another time.
Marcus brought it forward in the middle of our time. I told him we were discussing only time allocation here and I allowed him to bring this motion forward, but I don't want us to waste too much time. We should get done with the routine motions.
Unless there's any further debate, perhaps, Marcus, you can bring this forward at a particular time.
Go ahead, Dan.
Conservative
Dan Mazier Conservative Riding Mountain, MB
I like Doug's suggestion. Let's table it. Let's get some definitions.
I understand, Marcus; I know that it's well intended and that it's not intended to be a rabbit hole.
Let's get some definitions. If some special stuff has to be considered for a medical community and with the doctors sitting around the table, that's good, but let's table it for today. That's what I'm suggesting.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry
Then we have a sort of amendment that says we should table this and deal with it later. It's a motion to adjourn debate, really.
All those in favour, please so indicate.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry
That motion carries.
We will move now to the continuation of routine motions.
Go ahead, Ms. Chi.
Liberal
Maggie Chi Liberal Don Valley North, ON
The next motion is on document distribution:
That only the clerk of the committee be authorized to distribute documents to members of the committee, and only when the documents are in both official languages, and that all documents submitted to the committee in both official languages that do not come from a federal department or members’ offices or that have not been translated by the Translation Bureau be sent for linguistic review by the Translation Bureau before being distributed to members, and that the witnesses be advised accordingly.
Liberal
Liberal
Maggie Chi Liberal Don Valley North, ON
The next motion is on working meals:
That the clerk of the committee, at the discretion of the Chair, be authorized to make the necessary arrangements to provide working meals for the committee and its subcommittees.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry
Is there any discussion on the meals? Does anybody want to do a nutritional rundown on those? No.
All those in favour?
(Motion agreed to)
Go ahead, Ms. Chi.
Liberal
Maggie Chi Liberal Don Valley North, ON
Next is the motion on travel, accommodation and living expenses of witnesses:
That, if requested, reasonable travel, accommodation and living expenses be reimbursed to witnesses, not exceeding two representatives per organization; and that in exceptional circumstances, payment for more representatives be made at the discretion of the Chair.
Liberal
Liberal
Maggie Chi Liberal Don Valley North, ON
The next motion is on access to in camera meetings:
That unless otherwise ordered, each committee member be allowed to be accompanied by one staff member at in camera meetings and that one additional person from each House officer's office be allowed to be present.
That during in camera meetings, committee members may be informed by the committee Chair of the MPs who have been designated as substitutes for permanent members, in order to know which MPs are authorized to speak and vote during these committee meetings, and that only those who have been recognized and identified as such be authorized to speak, in keeping with the usual agreed rules of order and decorum.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry
Is there any discussion? No.
(Motion agreed to)
Please continue, Ms. Chi.
Liberal
Maggie Chi Liberal Don Valley North, ON
Next is a motion on transcripts of in camera meetings:
That one copy of the transcript of each in camera meeting be securely retained by the committee clerk for consultation by members of the committee or by their staff, and that the analysts assigned to the committee have access to the in camera transcripts.
Liberal
Liberal
Maggie Chi Liberal Don Valley North, ON
The next is on notice of motion:
That a 48-hour notice, interpreted as two nights, be required for any substantive motion to be moved in committee, unless the substantive motion relates directly to business then under consideration, provided that:
(a) the notice be filed with the clerk of the committee no later than 4:00 p.m. from Monday to Thursday, and no later than 2:30 p.m. on Friday;
(b) the motion be distributed to members and the offices of the whips of each recognized party in both official languages by the clerk on the same day the said notice was transmitted if it was received no later than the deadline hour;
(c) notices received after the deadline hour or on non-business days be deemed to have been received during the next business day.
Liberal
Liberal
Maggie Chi Liberal Don Valley North, ON
The next motion is on orders of reference from the House respecting bills:
That in relation to orders of reference from the House respecting bills,
(a) the clerk of the committee shall, upon the committee receiving such an order of reference, write to each member who is not a member of a caucus represented on the committee to invite those members to file with the clerk of the committee, in both official languages, any amendments to the bill that is the subject of the said order that they would suggest that the committee consider;
(b) Suggested amendments filed pursuant to paragraph (a) at least 48 hours prior to the start of clause-by-clause consideration of the bill to which the amendments relate shall be deemed to be proposed during the said consideration, provided that the committee may, by motion, vary this deadline in respect of a given bill; and
(c) During the clause-by-clause consideration of a bill, the Chair shall allow a member who filed suggested amendments pursuant to paragraph (a) an opportunity to make brief representations in support of them.
Liberal
Liberal
Maggie Chi Liberal Don Valley North, ON
The next motion is on technical tests for witnesses:
That the clerk inform each witness who is to appear before the committee that the House Administration support team must conduct technical tests to check the connectivity and the equipment used to ensure the best possible sound quality, and that the Chair advise the committee, at the start of each meeting, of any witness who did not perform the required technical tests.