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Minutes of Proceedings

44th Parliament, 1st Session
Meeting 49
Tuesday, December 13, 2022, 11:04 a.m. to 1:04 p.m.
Webcast
Presiding
Sean Casey, Chair (Liberal)

• Jean-Denis Garon for Luc Thériault (Bloc Québécois)
• Warren Steinley for Todd Doherty (Conservative)
House of Commons
• Marie-Hélène Sauvé, Legislative Clerk
 
Library of Parliament
• Sarah Dodsworth, Analyst
• Kelly Farrah, Analyst
Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs
• Richard Amnotte, Second Vice-President, French Language and Language Diversity
Department of Health
• Tim Singer, Director General, Environmental and Radiation Health Sciences, Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety Branch
Fort McMurray Firefighters Association
• Ryan Pitchers, Battalion Chief
International Association of Fire Fighters
• Neil McMillan, Director, Science and Research
Pursuant to the order of reference of Wednesday, June 22, 2022, the committee resumed consideration of Bill C-224, An Act to establish a national framework for the prevention and treatment of cancers linked to firefighting.

Richard Amnotte, Ryan Pitchers and Neil McMillan made statements and answered questions.

At 12:07 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 12:11 p.m., the sitting resumed.

Tim Singer answered questions.

The committee commenced its clause-by-clause study of the Bill.

Pursuant to Standing Order 75(1), consideration of Clause 1 (short title) and of the Preamble was postponed.

The Chair called Clause 2.

Clause 2 carried.

On Clause 3,

Adam van Koeverden moved, — That Bill C-224, in Clause 3, be amended by replacing line 15 on page 2 with the following:

“ing with the goal of improving access for firefighters to”

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Adam van Koeverden and it was agreed to.

Adam van Koeverden moved, — That Bill C-224, in Clause 3, be amended by replacing line 17 on page 2 with the following:

“Consultation

(2) In developing the national framework, the Minister must consult”

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Adam van Koeverden and it was agreed to on division.

Adam van Koeverden moved, — That Bill C-224, in Clause 3, be amended by replacing line 18 on page 2 with the following:

“with the representatives of the provincial and territorial governments”

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Adam van Koeverden and it was agreed to.

Jean-Denis Garon moved, — That Bill C-224, in Clause 3, be amended by replacing line 20 on page 2 with the following:

“Indigenous governing bodies, with health care professionals and with stakeholders in”

Debate arose thereon.

Marcus Powlowski moved, — That the amendment be amended by adding the words “, with scientists” after the word “professionals”.

After debate, the question was put on the subamendment of Marcus Powlowski and it was agreed to.

The question was put on the amendment of Jean-Denis Garon, as amended, and it was agreed to.

Adam van Koeverden moved, — That Bill C-224, in Clause 3, be amended by replacing line 22 on page 2 with the following:

“Content

(3) The national framework may include measures to”

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Adam van Koeverden and it was agreed to on the following recorded division:

YEAS: Jean-Denis Garon, Brendan Hanley, Majid Jowhari, Marcus Powlowski, Sonia Sidhu, Adam van Koeverden — 6;

NAYS: Don Davies, Stephen Ellis, Laila Goodridge, Matt Jeneroux, Warren Steinley — 5.

Adam van Koeverden moved, — That Bill C-224, in Clause 3, be amended by replacing line 23 on page 2 with the following:

“(a) explain and support research on the link between firefighting and certain”

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Adam van Koeverden and it was agreed to.

Jean-Denis Garon moved, — That Bill C-224, in Clause 3, be amended by replacing line 25 on page 2 with the following:

“(b) identify the guidance”

Debate arose thereon.

Don Davies moved, — That the amendment be amended by replacing the word “guidance” with the words “training and education”.

By unanimous consent, the subamendment was withdrawn.

The question was put on the amendment of Jean-Denis Garon and it was negatived, by a show of hands: YEAS: 1; NAYS: 10.

Adam van Koeverden moved, — That Bill C-224, in Clause 3, be amended by replacing line 28 on page 2 with the following:

“fighting and compile information relating to those needs;”

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Adam van Koeverden and it was agreed to on the following recorded division:

YEAS: Don Davies, Jean-Denis Garon, Brendan Hanley, Majid Jowhari, Marcus Powlowski, Sonia Sidhu, Adam van Koeverden — 7;

NAYS: Stephen Ellis, Laila Goodridge, Matt Jeneroux, Warren Steinley — 4.

Adam van Koeverden moved, — That Bill C-224, in Clause 3, be amended by deleting lines 1 and 2 on page 3.

After debate, by unanimous consent, the amendment was withdrawn.

Jean-Denis Garon moved, — That Bill C-224, in Clause 3, be amended by replacing lines 1 and 2 on page 3 with the following:

“(c) make recommendations respecting regular screenings for cancers linked to firefighting;”

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Jean-Denis Garon and it was agreed to.

Adam van Koeverden moved, — That Bill C-224, in Clause 3, be amended by replacing lines 9 and 10 on page 3 with the following:

“(f) prepare a summary of existing standards that recognize cancers linked to firefighting as occupational diseases.”

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Adam van Koeverden and it was agreed to on the following recorded division:

YEAS: Jean-Denis Garon, Brendan Hanley, Majid Jowhari, Marcus Powlowski, Sonia Sidhu, Adam van Koeverden — 6;

NAYS: Don Davies, Stephen Ellis, Laila Goodridge, Matt Jeneroux, Warren Steinley — 5.

Jean-Denis Garon moved, — That Bill C-224, in Clause 3, be amended by adding after line 10 on page 3 the following:

“(g) review the eligibility criteria of the Memorial Grant Program for First Responders to make applicants eligible for it even if the disease that caused the death is not recognized as an occupational disease following established provincial practices.”

Debate arose thereon.

Laila Goodridge moved, — That the amendment be amended, in the English version, by adding a comma after the word “eligible” and by deleting the words “for it”.

After debate, the question was put on the subamendment of Laila Goodridge and it was agreed to.

The question was put on the amendment of Jean-Denis Garon, as amended, and it was negatived, by a show of hands: YEAS: 1; NAYS: 10.

Clause 3, as amended, carried.

Clause 4 carried.

Clause 5 carried.

Clause 6 carried.

Clause 1, Short Title, carried.

The Preamble carried.

The Title carried.

The Bill, as amended, was adopted.

ORDERED, — That the Chair report the Bill, as amended, to the House.

ORDERED, — That Bill C-224, as amended, be reprinted for the use of the House of Commons at report stage.

At 1:04 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.



Patrick Williams
Clerk of the committee