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MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
 
Meeting No. 39
 
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
 

The Standing Committee on Health met by teleconference at 11:05 a.m. this day, in Room C-110 1 Wellington Street, the Chair, Joy Smith, presiding.

 

Members of the Committee present: Patrick Brown, Colin Carrie, Patricia Davidson, Ruby Dhalla, Hon. Ujjal Dosanjh, Nicolas Dufour, Kirsty Duncan, Megan Anissa Leslie, Luc Malo, Cathy McLeod, Joy Smith and Tim Uppal.

 

In attendance: Library of Parliament: Sonya Norris, Analyst; Karin Phillips, Analyst.

 

Witnesses: Alberta Cord Blood Bank: John Akabutu, Executive Medical Director. Canadian Blood Services: Graham Sher, Chief Executive Officer; Jean-Paul Bédard, Vice-President, Public Affairs; Jennifer Philippe, Director, OneMatch, Stem Cell and Marrow Network. Department of Health: Liz Anne Gillham-Eisen, Manager, Blood, Cells, Tissues, Organs and Xenografts, Office of Policy and International Collaboration, Biologics and Genetic Therapies Directorate. Héma-Québec: Marco Décelles, Vice-President, Stem Cells, Human Tissues and Reference Laboratory Operations; André Lebrun, Vice-President, Medical Affairs, Hematology. CancerCare Manitoba: Morel Rubinger, Associate Professor of Medicine, University of Manitoba; Donna Wall, Director, Manitoba Blood and Marrow Transplant Program, Pediatrics and Child Health, Internal Medicine and Immunology, University of Manitoba.

 
Pursuant to Standing Order 108(2) and the motion adopted by the Committee on Tuesday, October 5, 2010, the Committee resumed its study of stem cell donation in Canada.
 

John Akabutu, Graham Sher, Morel Rubinger, Liz Anne Gillham-Eisen, Marco Décelles and Donna Wall by teleconference from Winnipeg, Manitoba made statements and, with the other witnesses, answered questions.

 

At 12:45 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 12:46 p.m., the sitting resumed.

 
The Committee proceeded to the consideration of matters related to Committee business.
 

Kirsty Duncan moved, — That the Committee recommend that the federal government work with the provinces and territories to determine how best to provide Canadian Blood Services and Hema-Québec with the funding required to establish a public cord blood bank.

Debate arose thereon.

 

Colin Carrie moved, — That the motion be amended by replacing the word “funding” with the word “support”.

 

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Colin Carrie and it was negatived, by a show of hands: YEAS: 5; NAYS: 6.

 

The question was put on the motion and it was agreed to, by a show of hands: YEAS: 6; NAYS: 5.

 

It was agreed, — That this motion be reported back to the House.

 

Kirsty Duncan moved, — That the Committee recommend that Canadian Blood Services and Héma-Québec be encouraged to pursue all possible means to ensure wider participation in OneMatch registry, including partnership with federal and provincial governments and with the charitable sector.

Debate arose thereon.

 

After debate, the question was put on the motion and it was agreed to, by a show of hands: YEAS: 9; NAYS: 2.

 

It was agreed, — That this motion be reported back to the House.

 

By unanimous consent, it was agreed, — That the Committee recommend that Health Canada review its guidance for clinical trials, relating to cellular therapy, to ensure that Canadians will be able to access stem cell therapies in a safe and timely manner.

 

It was agreed, — That this motion be reported back to the House.

 

By unanimous consent, it was agreed, — That the Committee recommend that Health Canada work closely with its international counterparts to ensure that Canadians make informed decisions about the safety and efficacy of stem cell treatments not offered either in this country or in others where there is strong regulatory oversight.

 

It was agreed, — That this motion be reported back to the House.

 

Kirsty Duncan moved, — That the Committee recommend that the federal government increase financial support for the entire continuum of stem cell research, from basic science to funding for cell manufacturing, and early phase clinical trials to globally competitive levels.

Debate arose thereon.

 

Colin Carrie moved, — That the motion be amended by deleting the words “financial” and “levels” and by adding the words “ensure Canada remains” after the following: “clinical trials to”.

 

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Colin Carrie and it was agreed to, by a show of hands: YEAS: 5; NAYS: 4.

 

After debate, the question was put on the motion, as amended, and it was agreed to.

 

The motion, as amended, read as follows:

That the Committee recommend that the federal government increase support for the entire continuum of stem cell research, from basic science to funding for cell manufacturing, and early phase clinical trials to ensure Canada remains globally competitive.

 

It was agreed, — That this motion be reported back to the House.

 

At 1:02 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.

 



Christine Holke David
Clerk of the Committee

 
 
2010/11/24 3:01 p.m.