HESA Committee Meeting

The Standing Committee on Health met at 9:04 a.m. this day, in Room 209, West Block, for the purpose of electing a Chair, pursuant to Standing Order 106(1).

On motion of Patricia Davidson, it was agreed, — That Joy Smith be elected Chair of the Committee.

By unanimous consent, the Clerk of the Committee presided over the election of the Vice-Chairs.

On motion of Kirsty Duncan, it was agreed, — That Joyce Murray be elected First Vice-Chair of the Committee.

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

Joy Smith took the Chair.

STATEMENT BY THE CHAIR

Pursuant to Order made by the House on Wednesday, March 3, 2010, the following routine motions in effect at the time of prorogation of the previous session are deemed to have been adopted by the Committee in the current session:

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.

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.

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.

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. The Clerk shall advise all witnesses appearing before committee of this requirement.

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.

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.

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). Questioning during subsequent rounds shall be in the following fashion: Liberal, CPC, Bloc, CPC, Liberal, NDP, CPC, 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 alterning between the opposition and government members, at the discretion of the Chair.

That each Committee member in attendance shall be permitted to have one staff member attend at any in camera meetings. In addition, each party shall be permitted to have one party staff member attend in camera meetings.

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.

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 9:15 a.m, the Committee proceeded to sit in camera.

It was agreed, — That the Committee resume its study of health human resources undertaken during the last session.

It was agreed, — That all evidence and documentation presented to the Committee during the hearings on its study of health human resources during the 2nd session of the 40th Parliament be deemed received by this Committee in the present session.

It was agreed, — That the Committee dedicate at least one meeting to hear from witnesses on the subject of foreign trained medical graduates in relation to its health human resources study.

It was agreed, — That the Committee review the government's decision to cancel its commitment to create an HIV Vaccine manufacturing facility through the Canadian HIV Vaccine Initiative and explore the possible link between International Centre for Infectious Diseases (ICID) and the level 5 laboratory, that it call witnesses in this regard, and issue a report of its findings to the House; and that this topic be added to the priority list for consideration when all parties lists have been reviewed or received.

It was agreed, — That the Committee conduct a study of the elevated rates of tuberculosis infection in First Nations and Inuit communities and report its conclusions, including recommendations toward a national strategy to eradicate this disease, to the House of Commons, and that this topic be added to the priority list for consideration when all parties lists have been reviewed or received.

It was agreed, — That the Subcommittee on Neurological Disease from the previous session be re-established during this current session to examine autism, multiple sclerosis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease, bringing together decision-makers, researchers and stakeholders, and that the Subcommittee plan to hear from expert testimony and receive it at the earliest opportunity.

It was agreed, — That the Committee undertake a study to identify lessons learned from the H1N1 response, including collaboration with the provinces and territories, manufacturing of the vaccine and distribution to Canadians and make recommendations to address needs, including disease surveillance, hospital surge capacity, public health workforce and vaccine production capacity and furthermore, that the Committee undertake a study of the spring wave of H1N1 in Aboriginal communities, including: the spread of the virus, pandemic preparedness, social-environmental conditions, and underlying health conditions in H1N1-affected communities, treatment and health impacts and, federal, provincial and territorial responses, and that this topic be added to the priority list for consideration when all parties lists have been reviewed or received.

It was agreed, — That the Committee undertake a study regarding the listeriosis investigative review and determine the status of each of the 57 recommendations made in the Weatherill Report as it pertains to the Committee's mandate, and that this topic be added to the priority list for consideration when all parties lists have been reviewed or received.

It was agreed, — That as a priority of the Committee, its meetings of March 16 and March 18 be dedicated to the review of the Government’s Supplementary Estimates( C) 2009-2010 and 2010-2011 Main Estimates; that these meetings be televised; that the Minister of Health be invited to appear before the Committee for the full duration of the March 16 meeting; and that departmental officials be invited to appear for the full duration of the March 18 meeting.

It was agreed, — That the Committee table a single report on its study of health human resources.

It was agreed, — That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure meet during the week of March 22, 2010.

It was agreed, — That, on March 23 and 25, 2010 the Committee hear from witnesses on the challenges facing federal sub-population groups and rural and remote areas in relation to its study of health human resources .

At 9:12 a.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.