HESA Committee Meeting

The Standing Committee on Health met at 3:35 p.m. this day, in Room 269, West Block, the Chair, Joy Smith, presiding.

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.

It was agreed, — That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be established and be composed of the Chair, the two Vice-Chairs and a member of the other opposition party; and that each member of the Subcommittee shall be permitted to have one assistant attend at any meetings of the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure.

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.

It was agreed, — That only the Clerk of the Committee be authorized to distribute to the members of the Committee any documents, and that all documents which are to be distributed amongst the committee members must be in both language and that the Clerk shall advise all witnesses appearing before committee of this requirement.

It was agreed, — That the Clerk of the Committee be authorized to make the necessary arrangements to provide working meals and snacks for the Committee and its Subcommittees.

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

It was agreed, — That, each Committee member in attendance shall be permitted to have one staff member attend at any in camera meetings and that in addition, each party shall be permitted to have one party staff member attend in camera meetings.

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.

It was agreed, — That 48 hours’ notice be required for any substantive motion to be considered by the Committee, unless the susbstantive 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 after 3:30 p.m. be deemed to have been given on the following Monday.

At 5:12 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 5:16 p.m., the sitting resumed.

It was agreed, — That the witnesses from any 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) and that questioning during subsequent rounds shall be in the following fashion: Liberal, CPC, Bloc, CPC, Liberal, NDP, CPC, CPC for so long as time allows, and

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 alterning between the opposition and government members, at the discretion of the Chair.

At 5:22 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.