Health Committee on Dec. 4th, 2025

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

As you well know, Mr. Mazier, sometimes ministers have other things they're doing and cannot come. I think the minister is aware. I know she's going to try very hard to make an appearance.

Don't forget that we do have time after the Christmas break for her to appear then, if she wishes. There's enough time left on estimates for her to do it then.

With that being said, I want to thank the witnesses. I'm sorry that the two of you were left holding the bag, but you did a very good job.

I know some questions really should have been asked of an epidemiologist, and I don't know if we should go back and look at our witnesses to see if we have any epidemiologists who could come and talk about rural data, etc., which Ms. Konanz was asking about. We could look at some of those things.

We know that we have a problem with trying to get people headsets on short notice. Christmas is coming, and a lot of people are busy travelling and are not able to come.

Madame Larouche.

[Andréanne Larouche, Bloc, Shefford, QC]

Today, we were supposed to welcome Dr. Karl Weiss, chief of the microbiology and infectious diseases department at the Jewish General Hospital. I hope he will be invited again.

[The Clerk]

Yes, he has already been invited to attend an upcoming meeting.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

Yes, I think he couldn't get the proper headset on time. As I said at the beginning of the meeting, he will be reinvited, and he intends to come. That would be very good.

[The Clerk]

He confirmed that he will be here online on December 11.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

Mr. Mazier.

[Dan Mazier, Conservative, Riding Mountain, MB]

Clerk, did you say that PHAC is not coming to talk about supplementary estimates, or are they coming to talk about...? You mentioned antimicrobial....

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

PHAC's coming to talk about this issue, I think.

[The Clerk]

PHAC was already invited on the work plan for the study of the antimicrobials. That was the invitation they received before, and I sent the invitation for the supplementary (B)s after, but I did not get any answer yet.

[Dan Mazier, Conservative, Riding Mountain, MB]

Is there nothing at Tuesday's meeting about the supplementary (B)s?

[The Clerk]

It's about the antimicrobials.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

Because PHAC is responsible for surveillance, etc., and getting some of the information that Ms. Konanz is seeking, they're a necessary witness.

The motion went to the minister and the department. As I said, the minister says she cannot make it on Tuesday, and we're hoping that she might be able to do so sooner rather than later.

[Dan Mazier, Conservative, Riding Mountain, MB]

Those from the department who are coming on Tuesday are not coming to talk about the supplementary (B)s. We're continuing with the study.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

They're coming to talk about the study that's under way right now.

[Dan Mazier, Conservative, Riding Mountain, MB]

This motion is not going to happen by the date we requested.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

Well, the motion was accepted, but we have to wait on the minister. This is always a problem when you ask ministers to come. They have things arranged weeks in advance and may or may not be able to make the time that was specifically asked for. I'm afraid that is a problem...not a “problem”, but a fact we have to deal with.

Is there anybody with any further questions of the clerk? We have her on the hot seat here, so let's get her to answer questions.

Ms. Chi, you had your hand up.

[Maggie Chi, Liberal, Don Valley North, ON]

I move to adjourn the meeting.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

I'm sorry. I have Mr. Bailey.

[Burton Bailey, Conservative, Red Deer, AB]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

I was being patient—

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

You were being patient. I did not see your hand, nor did the clerk. You need to raise your hand further.

We also, at the moment—I will be precise—do have a motion to adjourn.

[A voice]

He had his hand up.

[Burton Bailey, Conservative, Red Deer, AB]

I had my hand up before we were speaking with the Bloc. I was being polite. I thought the clerk had seen my hand up, and then Mr. Mazier went.

Now, at this point, I would like to address the motion I made. I'm sorry. I'm not understanding. When I made a motion that was approved—

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

Mr. Bailey, I'm sorry—

[Burton Bailey, Conservative, Red Deer, AB]

I know everybody wants to go—

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

We have a motion on the floor to adjourn. It is not debatable, so I'm going to have to ask people to tell me whether they would like to adjourn, it being five minutes to....

I know that you had your hand up. I'm really sorry, Mr. Bailey, because I didn't see your hand, and the clerk didn't see it. We tend to try to keep track of people whose hands...you have to put your hand up so we can see it. If you do it nicely and genteelly, we may not see it; I did not see your hand.