Health Committee on Feb. 5th, 2026

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

No, I'm sorry.

Last time we spoke, you had 59 seconds. You now have about 45 seconds, sir.

[Maxime Blanchette-Joncas, Bloc, Rimouski—La Matapédia, QC]

Mr. Hébert, have you measured the chilling effect the regime being implemented through Bill C‑15 will have on international scientific collaboration, yes or no?

[Paul Hébert, President, Canadian Institutes for Health Research]

I’m sorry, but I didn’t understand the question.

[Maxime Blanchette-Joncas, Bloc, Rimouski—La Matapédia, QC]

I’d like to ask questions, Madam Chair, but—

[Paul Hébert]

I’m sorry.

[Maxime Blanchette-Joncas, Bloc, Rimouski—La Matapédia, QC]

I understand. We’re all tired.

[Paul Hébert]

Could you repeat it, please?

[Maxime Blanchette-Joncas, Bloc, Rimouski—La Matapédia, QC]

It’s not the interpretation, Madam Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

Go ahead and ask a question. We're waiting to get interpretation now.

Mr. Hébert, you—

[Paul Hébert]

Mr. Blanchette‑Joncas, it’s the beginning of your question that I missed.

[Maxime Blanchette-Joncas, Bloc, Rimouski—La Matapédia, QC]

Is it all right, Madam Chair?

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

Well, go ahead.

As I said before, you have 45 seconds. It's still there.

[Maxime Blanchette-Joncas, Bloc, Rimouski—La Matapédia, QC]

Mr. Hébert, have you measured the chilling effect of the regime set out in BillC‑15, which we’re studying today, on international scientific collaboration?

[Paul Hébert]

I’m sorry. Are you talking about the law—

[Maxime Blanchette-Joncas, Bloc, Rimouski—La Matapédia, QC]

Currently, we’re studying Bill C‑15.

[Paul Hébert]

Okay, my apologies. I understand the question now.

Are you talking about the $1.7‑billion investment to attract talent?

[Maxime Blanchette-Joncas, Bloc, Rimouski—La Matapédia, QC]

No, not at all.

[Paul Hébert]

Our federal investments continue to increase. There’s a decrease of 2% in the latest budget—

[Maxime Blanchette-Joncas, Bloc, Rimouski—La Matapédia, QC]

Mr. Hébert, we are studying clauses 400 to 456 of division 25 of Bill C‑15 today. That is today’s study. Do you know that? Were you informed?

[Paul Hébert]

Yes, I was informed, but unfortunately, I will need to send you a written response, because I don’t exactly understand the nature of the question.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

We're now 15 seconds over time.

Thank you very much, Mr. Hébert.

[Maxime Blanchette-Joncas, Bloc, Rimouski—La Matapédia, QC]

I’d like to raise a question of privilege, Madam Chair.

I regret to inform you that, today, I’m a bit shocked. We’re studying a bill today and the witnesses are confirming that they don’t know we are studying this bill.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

At the very beginning, we talked about it. I cannot answer for the witnesses, sir.

You made your point, though, and it's clear. The point is noted by everyone.

[Maxime Blanchette-Joncas, Bloc, Rimouski—La Matapédia, QC]

Madam Chair, do you find it normal that the witnesses who come before the committee don’t know what the topic of discussion will be?