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.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sukh Dhaliwal
Dr. Strauss, it's up to Dr. Eyolfson whether he wants to respond or not.
Can I move on to Mr. Ruff?
Mr. Ruff, you're next in line, and then we'll go back to Dr. Strauss.
Conservative
Alex Ruff Conservative Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound, ON
Thank you, Chair.
I respect my colleague MP Strauss's commentary.
There are some new members here who may not understand my background. I know you do, Chair, being from the military. I come from a background that believes in leadership and accountability. I personally support this amendment to have the minister come here, because it's been my frustration and observation since I was elected to this esteemed place six and a half years ago that our system is failing Canadians when we're not holding ministers accountable and responsible for their departments and anything that's ongoing.
To be fair, there's a former minister in this room, whom I actually have a lot of time for. She did a lot of good things and was very respectful of the role of the official opposition and keeping all members of Parliament informed.
There's ample opportunity and I, personally, will support Mr. Mazier's amendment that the minister should appear as well.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sukh Dhaliwal
Thank you very much, MP Ruff. Welcome to the committee, even though it's for a short while.
We'll go to Dr. Strauss and then Mr. Bailey afterwards.
Dr. Strauss, please go ahead.
Conservative
Matt Strauss Conservative Kitchener South—Hespeler, ON
Chair, I know many of my colleagues at this table, particularly on the Liberal side, are physicians. I know they work, as I do, in critical environments. They understand that open lines of communication are really important, and that transparency and accountability are really important.
If Dr. Eyolfson thinks we already agreed to bring the minister, and that Andrew Scheer was promulgating misinformation, I don't know why he wouldn't hesitate to say that now. I don't see how the business of the committee can go forward if we can't even agree on what has happened so far regarding summoning the minister.
Maybe the clerk wants to speak to it.
Dr. Eyolfson is very talkative on Twitter. He said they agreed to bring the minister. Later, he said they agreed to investigate PrescribeIT, but we saw what happened with my subamendment just now. I actually agree with the last part of his post. Facts matter.
Is the minister coming? Will there be an investigation on PrescribeIT? Will the minister be speaking to PrescribeIT if she comes as part of this amendment?
We need to know what—
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sukh Dhaliwal
Mr. Strauss, to be very respectful to you, I would like you to stay on the topic, which is HIV. PrescribeIT is not the subject and it's not under consideration at this point in time. I would really appreciate that.
The floor is yours.
Conservative
Matt Strauss Conservative Kitchener South—Hespeler, ON
Thank you.
I thought we were talking about the subamendment, which pertains to the minister coming.
Liberal
Conservative
Matt Strauss Conservative Kitchener South—Hespeler, ON
We just had all of these statements from Dr. Eyolfson on Twitter about the minister already coming. I'm trying to understand this. Maybe he can explain it to me. Is the minister already coming? If she's already coming and they've already agreed to it, and they're already on Twitter saying there's going to be an investigation....
Two weeks ago on Twitter, Tristan Bock—I don't know who that is—asked, “Are you allowing the investigation—yes or no?” Dr. Eyolfson said, “Yes”, but they just voted against the investigation.
I'm terribly confused. Is the minister coming as part of this motion? When she comes, will it be—
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sukh Dhaliwal
We have not had that vote yet. After this, we'll have a vote. Only then will you know whether we have the support of the—
Conservative
Matt Strauss Conservative Kitchener South—Hespeler, ON
I need to understand what she's coming about.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sukh Dhaliwal
You know that the majority rules. If we have the majority supporting that, we will.... We cannot, hypothetically, say yes or no at this point in time.
Conservative
Matt Strauss Conservative Kitchener South—Hespeler, ON
Can the clerk confirm, as Dr. Eyolfson said on Twitter, that they've agreed to summon Minister Michel? Is Minister Michel coming?
I don't know how to vote on this if the minister's already coming.
Conservative
Matt Strauss Conservative Kitchener South—Hespeler, ON
Is the minister already coming, like Dr. Eyolfson said? If she's coming, is it on PrescribeIT?
I'd love to have that sorted out before we vote.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sukh Dhaliwal
Before I go to Mr. Bailey, if you'll permit me, may I go to Mr. Eyolfson, please?
Liberal
Doug Eyolfson Liberal Winnipeg West, MB
We're talking about this amendment and only this amendment. I am in support of Mr. Mazier's amendment.
Liberal
Conservative
Burton Bailey Conservative Red Deer, AB
You're going to have to excuse me, Chair. I'm a newly elected MP, and I'm a little confused. Maybe the clerk can set me straight.
Was it agreed that the health minister was going to come back in May?
Liberal
Conservative
Burton Bailey Conservative Red Deer, AB
No. You don't have to suspend. I thought I would ask the clerk in a very polite way. I'm not trying to be combative in any manner.
Liberal
Sonia Sidhu Liberal Brampton South, ON
I have a point of order, Mr. Chair. Can we deal with this? My colleague, Mr. Eyolfson—
