Evidence of meeting #34 for Health in the 45th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was study.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Conservative
Bloc
Bloc
Maxime Blanchette-Joncas Bloc Rimouski—La Matapédia, QC
Can you explain why, this time, you agreed to the introduction of an amendment even though we didn't receive the translation? We've been carrying out this type of work for over an hour and a half. This is the first time that you agreed to let us proceed to a vote. You didn't want me to speak before the vote. Yet that's exactly what I was asking for. It seems that it would be smart and consistent to do the same thing that you were asking for earlier.
You just made a fairly significant concession. You agreed to put an amendment to a vote even though we hadn't officially received it in both official languages. In my opinion, this is quite serious.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sukh Dhaliwal
Mr. Blanchette-Joncas, I take this very seriously. I respect both of the official languages. If you would have brought that forward, I would have suspended the meeting and would have done what you wanted. I'm sorry that you did not raise your hand before the vote.
Once the vote was called.... You understand.... If you wanted a copy of this motion, I wish you would have spoken at that time, as you have done now. I asked the people, again, if there was more debate on this. There was no debate, and you did not say anything, so that's the reason I called the vote.
I'm sorry. The next time, I'll make sure I come back to you.
Bloc
Maxime Blanchette-Joncas Bloc Rimouski—La Matapédia, QC
I have a point of order, Mr. Chair.
You're telling me that I didn't raise my hand before the vote, and that's why you couldn't ask for the amendment in both official languages. That's called shirking responsibility, Mr. Chair. If you want me to keep an eye on you while you do your job, I'll do it.
However, as chair, your role and responsibility is to ensure that the committee follows the procedures and rules. First you say that we must do something, but then you say that it's no longer necessary.
You just told me that it was because I didn't raise my hand before the vote. That's no excuse, Mr. Chair. I can confirm that I did raise my hand before the vote, but you told me not to speak before the vote. That's what I did.
I accept your apology. However, you just confirmed that I need to keep a close eye on you to make sure that you're doing your job. That's what you just told me.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sukh Dhaliwal
Thank you, Mr. Blanchette-Joncas.
I have done this. I know I do this job very diligently and with fairness, making sure that both official languages are respected. I have worked with the Bloc members previously. If you talk to Mr. Brunelle-Duceppe, he will tell you that I have always been very respectful to the francophonie and the Bloc Québécois.
I will make sure that next time I do pay attention, and you will not be let down.
Conservative
Dan Mazier Conservative Riding Mountain, MB
Was that a question of privilege that you brought up, Max?
Conservative
Dan Mazier Conservative Riding Mountain, MB
You need to rule on that, then. It wasn't a point of....
Liberal
Conservative
Dan Mazier Conservative Riding Mountain, MB
Oh, I didn't listen. I just heard a question of privilege, and I didn't hear a ruling. That's all that went on.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sukh Dhaliwal
Mr. Mazier, this is where you are trying to interrupt. The honourable member has already said that he has accepted my apology, and he has moved on. You should have listened.
I know it's becoming a habit on your side to intervene time and time again. Please pay attention.
Conservative
Conservative
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sukh Dhaliwal
We are going to the speaking list.
Mr. Mazier, if you can stay quiet and raise your hand if you want to speak, I will give you the hand.... Your turn will come. I'm going to say the speaking list now. If you respect the speaking list, the meeting will go very well. You are the only one who has tried to interrupt time and time again.
Mr. Eyolfson took his name off the list. We will now go to Mr. Strauss, and then Mr. Blanchette-Joncas, if he wants to speak, and then Mr. Mazier.
Dr. Strauss, you have the floor.
Conservative
Matt Strauss Conservative Kitchener South—Hespeler, ON
Thank you.
I'm reiterating that I look forward to doing the study Dr. Eyolfson has proposed. I think we should follow the work order that we already have before us, so I don't see why this motion has to be undertaken today, but as it has been undertaken, I think it's important that we consider....
Unfortunately, Mr. Mazier's amendment to consider the effects of opioid use was rebuffed, but I think we also need to consider the effects of prescription medications. The HIV crisis in Manitoba right now is different from 30 years ago, when there were not such effective prescription medications for HIV. I think if these rates are doubling or quadrupling, as they have, that almost by definition means that individuals are not getting proper prescription medical care in terms of PrEP and PEP.
I also want to draw the committee's attention to some remarks that the Honourable Jane Philpott, then minister of health, made to the Economic Club of Canada in 2017 regarding her plans to bring forward PrescribeIT and on the practices of better prescribing and reduced overuse of drugs, including opioids, that this program held. She said the following:
Finally, a note on the importance of data.
Data are the foundation of evidence-based policy and program decisions. Without data, we risk not being able to effectively identify inappropriate prescription practices, analyze the use of drugs, or offer support through monitoring after drugs enter the market.
We will be asking the Canadian Institute for Health Information to strengthen the database by collecting data regarding public and private [drugs].
[Canada Health] Infoway’s e-prescribing system that I mentioned earlier will also play a critical role in expanding the data available.
Once complete, the drug information system will be a comprehensive system—
