HESA Committee Meeting

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MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

Meeting No. 45

Thursday, June 2, 2005

The Standing Committee on Health met at 11:04 a.m. this day, in Room 308 West Block, the Chair, Bonnie Brown, presiding.

Members of the Committee present: Bonnie Brown, Colin Carrie, Hon. Brenda Chamberlain, Jean Crowder, Nicole Demers, Ruby Dhalla, Steven John Fletcher, James Lunney, Réal Ménard, Rob Merrifield, Michael John Savage and Hon. Robert Thibault.

Associate Members present: Paul Szabo.

In attendance: Library of Parliament: Nancy Miller Chenier, Analyst ; Sonya Norris, Analyst.

Witnesses: Public Health Agency of Canada: David Butler-Jones, Chief Public Health Officer; Kelly Stone, Director, Childhood and Adolescence Division, Centre for Healthy Human Development. Department of Health: Kathy Langlois, Director General, Community Programs Directorate, First Nations and Inuit Health Branch; Beth Pieterson, Director General, Drug Strategy and Controlled Substances Programme, Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety Branch.

Pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), and the motion adopted by the Committee on Thursday, February 3, 2005, the Committee resumed its study on Internet Pharmacies.

Réal Ménard moved, — Whereas the United States Congress is considering the adoption of bills permitting the import of prescription drugs from Canada.

Whereas Americans in 2004 imported US$700 million in prescription drugs from Canada.

Whereas the Standing Committee on Health feels that the imminent adoption of these bills constitutes a threat to the integrity of our health systems and could deprive patients of the availability of low-cost prescription drugs.

Whereas the Standing Committee on Health is urging the Minister of Health to demonstrate vigilance in this matter.

Therefore be it resolved, that the Standing Committee on Health, before any other business, invite the Minister of Health to come and explain the measures that he must take to ensure that the reserves of prescription drugs and prescription drug price controls are protected for patients.

After debate, the question was put on the motion and it was agreed to.

Rob Merrifield moved, — Whereas, the U.S. Congress might adopt legislation within weeks to legalize bulk imports of prescription drugs from Canada;

Therefore, be it resolved that this Committee urges the government to immediately ban bulk exports of prescription drugs, with the exception of those produced in Canada for export, and that this recommendation be reported to the House.

After debate, the question was put on the motion and it was agreed to.

Pursuant to Standing Order 108(2) and the motion adopted by the Committee on Thursday, May 19, 2005, the Committee resumed its study on silicone gel-filled breast implants.

Nicole Demers moved, — That the Standing Committee on Health requests the production of all studies on breast prostheses in the last ten years including the breast implant cohort study, and recommends that the Minister of Health refrain from issuing licences until the Committee has examined the issue.

After debate, the question was put on the motion and it was agreed to.

At 11:47 a.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 11:54 a.m., the sitting resumed.

Pursuant to Standing Order 108(2) and the motion adopted by the Committee on Thursday, April 7, 2005, the Committee resumed its study of a new government strategy for the prevention of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder.

David Butler-Jones made a statement and, with Kathy Langlois and Beth Pieterson, answered questions.

At 1:02 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.

Carmen DePape
Clerk of the Committee

2005/06/07 9:44 a.m.