Health Committee on April 21st, 2026

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

I was just about to say that this debating across the floor is not okay. Go through the chair, please. If you have a question, put your hand up and I'll recognize you.

I have a list of people discussing the motion that's on the floor. That is the process we have to undergo.

Doug, you will still have the floor, but in the meantime, I would like to thank the witnesses for being here and tell them they may leave with our blessing.

Thank you.

[An hon. member]

Why?

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

The witnesses can go. They're not part of this motion. The committee is debating a motion.

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

Don't we still have time?

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

We have resources until 7:20 p.m., and then we must leave.

We have a motion on the floor. The procedure is to debate the motion.

We have Mr. Eyolfson speaking. I have Ms. Sidhu on the list after that. I'm following procedure, guys. That's it.

Mr. Eyolfson, go ahead.

[Doug Eyolfson, Liberal, Winnipeg West, MB]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

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

I have a point of order, Madam Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

Yes.

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

What's the procedure for letting witnesses leave? Is this done only by order of the chair, or does it require the unanimous consent of the committee?

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

No, you don't. I can tell the witnesses to leave because we have a motion, and I do not see them having to stay here until 7:20 p.m., only to have to leave then.

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

What's the procedure, Madam Chair?

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

I'm being respectful of the witnesses, Monsieur Blanchette-Joncas.

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

What's the procedure, Madam Chair?

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

The chair may ask the witnesses to leave if the time they came for is up and if there is something else on the table.

We have 15 minutes to go. Mr. Eyolfson is speaking. Ms. Sidhu is next. With my experience of watching my list and looking at the time, I do not think we will get back to the witnesses.

Thank you.

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

I'm talking about the procedure, Madam Chair. I'm not talking about your experience.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

You do not wish the witnesses to leave, Mr. Blanchette-Joncas. Be it on your head.

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

I'm asking you to tell me the procedure, Madam Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

I am running this meeting.

Pardon?

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

I would like you to tell us the procedure. What's the procedure?

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

I just told you the chair can tell the witnesses to leave, and I'm asking the witnesses to leave.

Thank you.

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

Can you do so without the committee's consent?

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

Yes. It's because the committee is debating a motion that was put in while we were dealing with this issue.

[Dan Mazier, Conservative, Riding Mountain, MB]

I have a point of order.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

This motion was put in knowing that a motion can be debated. It was [Inaudible—Editor].

[Dan Mazier, Conservative, Riding Mountain, MB]

I have a point of order. If we just vote on it, then away we go.