Health Committee on Sept. 23rd, 2025

[Luc Thériault, Bloc, Montcalm, QC]

I have absolutely nothing to say about that, apart from the reservations I expressed earlier about the Conservatives' motion. I did point out the limitations of this study. Consequently, as long as the limits are respected, I think it is appropriate to shed new light on the situation. That's why I support this motion.

I agree that, after the study of the report on women's health, which we will have to finish dealing with once it is tabled, the next committee study should be the one proposed by the Conservative motion. I don't see a problem with that. I'm not in a hurry to deal with my motion. I'm very generous.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

Is there any further discussion?

Mr. Powlowski.

[Marcus Powlowski, Liberal, Thunder Bay—Rainy River, ON]

Having sat on this committee for six years, I know that when these other studies.... When the women's study gets back to us, if we want to give it a couple of months before finishing it, that's fine with me. On the opioid study, I understand that it will take a month to get out the present evidence, but I agree with Sonia in that whatever other study we start first, I would like to see us interrupt that to finish the opioid study.

The opioid crisis is a gigantic problem, as I think we all know, across Canada and in many of our ridings. I know that in Thunder Bay, the opioid death rate is similar to what it is in Vancouver—that's your riding and your municipality, Hedy—but it's also closely tied with the homelessness crisis and the mental health issue. We've all seen the deteriorations in our downtown cores as a result of the open use of opioids. I think this is a problem that many Canadians are concerned about—

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

Excuse me. We're actually speaking to the priority of the three motions on the floor.

[Marcus Powlowski, Liberal, Thunder Bay—Rainy River, ON]

With due respect, Hedy, I too am talking about the priority.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

We agreed to this earlier on, Mr. Powlowski. We have five minutes to go.

[Marcus Powlowski, Liberal, Thunder Bay—Rainy River, ON]

I would like to—

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

There are no further resources to meet after one o'clock.

[Marcus Powlowski, Liberal, Thunder Bay—Rainy River, ON]

We're speaking to the motions and to the priority.

I repeat: Given the severity of the problem and the number of deaths of young people due to the opioid crisis, when we have finished and the analysts have sent out the report from the witnesses we've already seen, I would like us to go back to the opioid study, whatever we're doing, in order to finish that. Overwhelmingly, I think, this is a health crisis that we need to be dealing with.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

Thank you.

Go ahead, Ms. Sidhu.

[Sonia Sidhu, Liberal, Brampton South, ON]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

We are three past members—Mr. Thériault, Dr. Powlowski and I—and we did a lot of hard work, with 86-plus witnesses in the women's study. I urge the committee to look into the women's study first. Everything is ready to go. I just want to make that point.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

We all agreed that we would have the women's study printed and send it out to the new committee. That should be in your hands, I would suggest, in a day or two. That would be one of the first things.

We are now talking about, specifically, the three new motions that were made and how we prioritize them. We've heard that Mr. Mazier wants his first. I want to hear what others say, and then we're going to vote on the order of how we do this: Mazier, Thériault and then Liberals.

Ms. Konanz, go ahead.

[Helena Konanz, Conservative, Similkameen—South Okanagan—West Kootenay, BC]

I was just wondering why we didn't go to a vote. A motion has been made.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

We could in a minute. People are still debating this issue, I think.

[Helena Konanz, Conservative, Similkameen—South Okanagan—West Kootenay, BC]

In two minutes—

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

Ms. Konanz, do you have something to say on the issue of the priority?

[Helena Konanz, Conservative, Similkameen—South Okanagan—West Kootenay, BC]

I agree with Mr. Mazier's priorities. The motion has been made. Let's take a vote.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

I have to wait until all debate has ended. I have names on the list, so I have to call them because they're debating Mr. Mazier's motion.

We'll go to Mr. Mazier and then Mr. Eyolfson.

Go ahead.

[Dan Mazier, Conservative, Riding Mountain, MB]

I just make some fine points on Ms. Chi's comments about the order. It's usually the official opposition, the Conservatives; then the opposition, the Bloc; and then the government, the Liberals. That's usually the order because of the committee....

I just bring that to everybody's attention. That's what I would move and we can have a vote.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

Before we do that, we have Mr. Eyolfson yet to speak. He had his hand up. The debate is not ended until everyone has had their hand acknowledged. We are now at the end of one o'clock. We're going to have to get moving to voting on this soon.

Doug, go ahead.

[Doug Eyolfson, Liberal, Winnipeg West, MB]

Very quickly, I was in favour of Ms. Chi's motion on the priority of antibiotic resistance. It is a very pressing issue, as are the issues with.... We just went through a pandemic, and we know the issues with the availability of medications, so for that we need.... I agree with Ms. Chi's motion on Mr. Thériault's being first.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

Thank you.

I just heard from the clerk that we have a few more minutes, so we can stay past one o'clock. She just heard from the interpretation services, so we still have some time. Is anybody else's hand up? If not, we're voting on Mr. Mazier's motion, which said....

Excuse me, but we have more people.

Go ahead, Ms. Chi and then Ms. Sidhu.

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

Thank you, Madam Chair.

To Mr. Mazier's point, I believe the order you're referring to is for questions, not for motions. I'd just like to put that on the record as well.

I also want to add my support to what my colleague, Dr. Powlowski, was just referring to in terms of an opioid study, because it's such an important issue impacting so many families. I just want to add my support to that.

My last comment is on my motion to the committee, the pharmaceutical sovereignty piece. I think we've seen over and over again the importance of having that as we move forward and plan ahead. It's just to support the families across the country so that they no longer have to scramble for resources and pharmaceutical products. I just want to really emphasize the importance of that.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

Go ahead, Ms. Sidhu.

[Sonia Sidhu, Liberal, Brampton South, ON]

Madam Chair, I think that, before, in subcommittee, we agreed on all three studies. Now it's to set up the priority, the priority being—as my colleague said—the opioid study after the women's health study.