Evidence of meeting #32 for Health in the 45th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was cfia.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

Members speaking

Before the committee

S. Kochhar  President, Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Reimer  Chief Public Health Officer, Public Health Agency of Canada

The Chair Liberal Sukh Dhaliwal

I call this meeting to order.

Welcome to meeting number 30 of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Health. Today's meeting is taking place in a hybrid format, pursuant to the Standing Orders.

I would like to remind participants of the following points.

Please wait until I recognize you by name before speaking. For those participating by video conference, click on the microphone icon to activate your mic, and please mute yourself when you are not speaking. I remind you that all comments should be addressed through the chair.

For members in the room, if you wish to speak, please raise your hand. For members on Zoom, please use the “raise hand” function. The clerk and I will manage the speaking order as best as we can. You can also look at the card that is on the table.

One thing that I want honourable members to pay attention to here is that crosstalk is not acceptable. That's for the health of the interpreters and so that members get the time they deserve—both sides, not one side.

When we have witnesses, sometimes what happens is that a witness goes on a bit too long. If an honourable member wants to stop a witness, they should please raise their hand, and I will stop the clock so we will not take time from the member. We'll let the witness finish, and then we will come back to the honourable member. I hope that is good for everyone. It makes sense. I have done that in the past.

3:40 p.m.

Conservative

Burton Bailey Conservative Red Deer, AB

If I understand you correctly, if I've asked a question and the witness is not answering my question and I want to interject, you want me to put my hand up.

The Chair Liberal Sukh Dhaliwal

Put your hand up, and then I'll stop the clock.

3:40 p.m.

Conservative

Burton Bailey Conservative Red Deer, AB

Okay.

The Chair Liberal Sukh Dhaliwal

Then the witness will be able to see...or I will tell the witness to finish. I will not take time from you.

Is that okay? Do you see what I mean?

3:40 p.m.

Conservative

Burton Bailey Conservative Red Deer, AB

I understand what you're saying. It's just different from other committees that I've been at, so I appreciate your explaining that. Thank you.

The Chair Liberal Sukh Dhaliwal

I know, but this is the procedure I've used previously, and it has worked very well.

3:40 p.m.

Conservative

Burton Bailey Conservative Red Deer, AB

I'll test it out. Thank you, Chair.

The Chair Liberal Sukh Dhaliwal

If it doesn't work, then we'll change it. It's going to be fair for every member. It's not for one person or another.

Thank you kindly.

Before proceeding, I would like to inform members that earlier today, the clerk circulated a proposed budget of $2,250 for the study of the order in council appointment of Dr. Joss Reimer, and a budget of $2,250 for the study of the order in council appointment of Dr. Harpreet Singh Kochhar.

Is it the pleasure of the committee to adopt these budgets?

Some hon. members

Agreed.

The Chair Liberal Sukh Dhaliwal

On another matter regarding our meeting on May 5, the CEO of Canada Health Infoway is no longer in their role.

An hon. member

What happened?

The Chair Liberal Sukh Dhaliwal

Let me finish. It is what it is. That's why I'm saying it, and I mean it. That's not my jurisdiction. My jurisdiction is to make sure that I conduct the meeting properly.

Are members agreeable to having just the board chair, Peter Vaughan, appear on behalf of Canada Health Infoway? Secondly, Mr. Vaughan has requested to be accompanied by Ms. Tania Ensor to help respond to questions on technical aspects. Is that okay with members?

3:45 p.m.

Conservative

Dan Mazier Conservative Riding Mountain, MB

No.

I have a point of order.

The Chair Liberal Sukh Dhaliwal

Mr. Mazier, you have the floor.

3:45 p.m.

Conservative

Dan Mazier Conservative Riding Mountain, MB

Mr. Green needs to come back.

The Chair Liberal Sukh Dhaliwal

Okay.

Does any other member...?

3:45 p.m.

Conservative

Dan Mazier Conservative Riding Mountain, MB

We did summon both of them. That was the will of the committee. Mr. Green needs to come back.

The Chair Liberal Sukh Dhaliwal

There are other members who want to respond. I have Ms. Chi next, and then it's Dr. Eyolfson.

Maggie Chi Liberal Don Valley North, ON

Thank you, Mr. Chair, for bringing up that matter.

I actually don't have the motion in front of me. I just want to get some clarification. Did we summon the position or the person?

The Chair Liberal Sukh Dhaliwal

It is my understanding from the clerk that it was the position, and I'm going to look at that as well. I just took over the chair, so I don't have that handy. Give me a minute to look at that.

Dr. Eyolfson, do you have something to add?

Doug Eyolfson Liberal Winnipeg West, MB

I was going to add much the same point. If the motion was to summon the president and this individual is no longer the president, then it doesn't apply to him.

The Chair Liberal Sukh Dhaliwal

That's not only it. If someone is not officiating as president and it is not the person.... If the official representing the CEO or who is in that chair is not there, it will be obsolete.

I have Ms. Konanz first, and then it's Mr. Mazier.

3:45 p.m.

Conservative

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

I believe that we called Mr. Green because he'd been there for over 10 years. It's important that we have him and the chair of the board. The board chair is who was summoned. I believe that was the intent, no matter what it says. I believe that was the intent of the motion.

The Chair Liberal Sukh Dhaliwal

I have read the motion. The motion does not—