HESA Committee Meeting

The Standing Committee on Health met at 9:09 a.m. this day, in Room 237-C, Centre Block, for the purpose of electing a Chair, pursuant to Standing Order 106(1).

On motion of Steven John Fletcher, it was agreed, — That Joy Smith be elected Chair of the Committee.

On motion of Tina Keeper, it was agreed, — That Lui Temelkovski be elected First Vice-Chair of the Committee.

On motion of Luc Malo, it was agreed, — That Christiane Gagnon be elected Second Vice-Chair of the Committee.

On motion of Lui Temelkovski, it was agreed, — That the Committee retain, as needed and at the discretion of the Chair, the services of one or more analysts from the Library of Parliament to assist it in its work.

On motion of Christiane Gagnon, it was agreed, — That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be established and composed of the Chair, the two Vice-Chairs and a member of the other opposition party.

On motion of Patricia Davidson, it was agreed, — That the Chair be authorized to hold meetings to receive evidence and to have that evidence printed when a quorum is not present, provided that at least three (3) members are present, including one member of the opposition.

On motion of Lui Temelkovski, it was agreed, — That only the Clerk of the Committee be authorized to distribute documents to members of the Committee and only when such documents exist in both official languages.

On motion of Steven John Fletcher, it was agreed, — That the Clerk of the Committee be authorized to make the necessary arrangements to provide working meals for the Committee and its Subcommittees.

On motion of Patrick Brown, it was agreed, — That, if requested, reasonable travel, accommodation and living expenses be reimbursed to witnesses, not exceeding two (2) representatives per organization; and that, in exceptional circumstances, payment for more representatives be made at the discretion of the Chair.

On motion of Judy Wasylycia-Leis, it was agreed, — That one copy of the transcript of each in camera meeting be kept in the Committee Clerk’s office for consultation by members of the Committee.

Robert Thibault moved, — That 48 hours’ notice be required for any substantive motion to be considered by the Committee, unless the substantive motion relates directly to business then under consideration; and that the notice of motion be filed with the Clerk of the Committee and distributed to members in both official languages; and that notice given on Friday be deemed to have been given on the following Monday.

After debate, the question was put on the motion and it was agreed to, by a show of hands: YEAS: 7; NAYS: 3.

Robert Thibault moved, — That all questioning of witnesses be limited to five (5) minutes per member and that the Chair direct the first two (2) questions to members of the Official Opposition, followed by five (5) minutes for the Bloc Québécois, five (5) minutes for the Conservative Party, five (5) minutes for the New Democratic Party; and that subsequent questions be alternately shared between government and opposition members, at the discretion of the Chair, with the principle of allowing all members who wish to speak that opportunity.

That during the appearance of a Minister, the Chair direct the first fifteen (15) minutes to members of the Official Opposition, ten (10) minutes to the Bloc Québécois, ten (10) minutes to the New Democratic Party and ten (10) minutes to the Conservative Party during the first round of questioning; and that thereafter five (5) minutes per party be allocated alternating between the opposition and government members, at the discretion of the Chair.

Patrick Brown moved, — That the motion be amended by replacing the first paragraph, with the following: “That the witnesses from any one organization shall be allowed ten (10) minutes to make their opening statement. During the questioning of witnesses, there shall be allocated seven (7) minutes for the first round of questioning and thereafter five (5) minutes shall be allocated to each questioner in the second and subsequent rounds of questioning. The order of questions for the first round of questioning shall be as follows: Liberal, Bloc, NDP, Conservative (CPC). Questioning during subsequent rounds shall alternate between the opposition members and government members, in the following fashion: Liberal, CPC, Bloc, CPC, NDP, CPC, Liberal, CPC, Bloc, CPC, NDP, CPC, for so long as time allows.” .

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Patrick Brown and it was agreed to, by a show of hands: YEAS: 7; 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 witnesses from any one organization shall be allowed ten (10) minutes to make their opening statement. During the questioning of witnesses, there shall be allocated seven (7) minutes for the first round of questioning and thereafter five (5) minutes shall be allocated to each questioner in the second and subsequent rounds of questioning. The order of questions for the first round of questioning shall be as follows: Liberal, Bloc, NDP, Conservative (CPC). Questioning during subsequent rounds shall alternate between the opposition members and government members, in the following fashion: Liberal, CPC, Bloc, CPC, NDP, CPC, Liberal, CPC, Bloc, CPC, NDP, CPC, for so long as time allows.

That during the appearance of a Minister, the Chair direct the first fifteen (15) minutes to members of the Official Opposition, ten (10) minutes to the Bloc Québécois, ten (10) minutes to the New Democratic Party and ten (10) minutes to the Conservative Party during the first round of questioning; and that thereafter five (5) minutes per party be allocated alternating between the opposition and government members, at the discretion of the Chair.

Judy Wasylycia-Leis moved, — That, unless otherwise ordered, each Committee member be allowed to be accompanied by one staff person at an in camera meeting.

Patricia Davidson moved, — That the motion be amended by replacing the words “at an in camera meeting.” with the words “from his or her office; and in addition one staff member designated from the respective parties (i.e. one representative from the Whip's office) at in camera meetings.”.

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Patricia Davidson and it was agreed to, by a show of hands: YEAS: 7; 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, unless otherwise ordered, each Committee member be allowed to be accompanied by one staff person from his or her office; and in addition one staff member designated from the respective parties (i.e. one representative from the Whip's office) at in camera meetings.

The Committee was informed by the Parliamentary Secretary that the Minister of Health was available to appear before the Committee on Thursday, November 22, 2007, on the Supplementary Estimates.

At 9:52 a.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.