HESA Committee Meeting

     Honourable members of the committee, good morning.

    I see a quorum.

    We can now proceed to the election of the chair.

    I must inform the members that the clerk of the committee can only receive motions for the election of the chair. The clerk cannot receive any other types of motions, entertain points of order or participate in debate.

    Pursuant to Standing Order 106(2), the chair must be a member of the government party. I am ready to receive motions to that effect.

    I nominate Ms. Joy Smith.

    It has been moved by Mr. Brown that Ms. Smith be elected as chair of the committee.

    Are there any further motions?

    Is it the pleasure of the committee to adopt the motion?

    (Motion agreed to)

    The Clerk: I declare Ms. Smith duly elected chair of the committee.

    Some hon. members: Hear, hear!

    The Clerk: Before I invite Ms. Smith to take the chair, if the committee is agreed, we will now proceed to the election of vice-chairs.

    Pursuant to Standing Order 106(2), the first vice-chair must be a member of the official opposition. I am now ready to receive motions for the election of the first vice-chair.

    I nominate Kirsty Duncan.

    Mr. Dosanjh has moved that Ms. Duncan be elected first vice-chair of the committee. Are there any further motions?

    Is it the pleasure of the committee to adopt the motion?

    (Motion agreed to)

    The Clerk: I declare Ms. Duncan duly elected first vice-chair of the committee.

    Some hon. members: Hear, hear!

    The Clerk: Pursuant to Standing Order 106(2), the second vice-chair must be a member of an opposition party other than the official opposition.

     I am now prepared to receive motions for second vice-chair.

    Madam Clerk, I would like to nominate Ms. Megan Leslie for second vice-chair.

    Mr. Malo has moved that Ms. Leslie be elected second vice-chair of the committee.

    Are there any further motions?

    Is it the pleasure of the committee to adopt the motion?

    (Motion agreed to)

    The Clerk: I declare Ms. Leslie duly elected second vice-chair of the committee.

     Well, what a surprising election. I thank you so much for your support.

    Dr. Duncan and Ms. Megan Leslie, welcome to the executive. This is a great committee; there's no doubt about it. We have some very important things that we need to be doing.

    Today we're just going to take care of the election of the chair and vice-chairs. At the next meeting, we will set about doing the work we want to see put before the committee.

    To give a heads-up on that, you have with you an analysis of the kinds of outstanding things we have on our agenda, the issues addressed by the committee during the 40th Parliament from November 2008 to June 2010, and there are some outstanding things and some continuing things. I would ask that you take this back to your offices to look it over and then add to it for the next committee meeting, at which time we will have a business meeting.

    There is one thing that you haven't received, I have just found out.

    By the way, I want to thank and welcome our very competent analysts and our wonderful clerk. Let's welcome them.

    Some hon. members: Hear, hear!

    The Chair: What you haven't received, which you will—we'll make sure it gets to your offices—is the remaining business items from the previous session of the House of Commons.

    There's Bill C-36, an act respecting the safety of consumer products. This bill has received first reading but has not been referred to the committee. The committee could potentially deal with legislation in the fall.

    Regarding the study on the cancellation of the HIV vaccine manufacturing facility under the Canadian HIV vaccine initiative, a draft report has been considered by the committee, and all of the text and recommendations were adopted with amendments; however, the committee wanted to review a second draft with the changes before officially adopting the report. Possible time required would be an hour or an hour and a half meeting on this.

    A letter on rare disorders was distributed to committee members but has not been discussed by the committee.

    Concerning a study on the impact of microwaves on human health, we tried very hard to get that topic on the agenda. The committee has not yet decided whether they're going to report on this issue. Witnesses have been lobbying for a report. We haven't gone to that stage yet.

    And the committee passed a motion in June to undertake a review of the Assisted Human Reproduction Agency of Canada.

    So we have all these issues, which I would like you to come prepared for next Tuesday. We're going to put this all down on our order of business.

    Are there any comments or questions?

    Monsieur Malo.

    I would also like to remind you, Madam Clerk, that a draft of a letter on rare disorders was circulated in June. We could perhaps see if we can't reach an agreement to make the letter official.

    Yes, I just mentioned that, actually, Monsieur Malo: the letter on rare disorders was distributed.

    My apologies.

    That's okay. We absolutely will do that next meeting.

    Monsieur Dosanjh.

    I'm assuming that we will get a copy of the letter and the items that you were reading.

    Absolutely.

    Thank you. So we can consider them before we come.

    Absolutely. The committee members—and the new committee members, by the way—

    The new committee members....

     I would like to officially welcome our new committee members, Mr. Dosanjh, and Scott Simms, who is filling in for Ruby Dhalla. She will be joining us as well.

    Welcome, everybody.

    Are there any other comments or questions?

    Seeing none, I will adjourn, and we'll see you next Tuesday.