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HESA Committee Meeting

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Minutes of Proceedings

Standing Committee on Health (HESA)
44th Parliament, 1st Session
Meeting 56
Thursday, March 9, 2023, 11:06 a.m. to 1:06 p.m.
Webcast
Presiding
Sean Casey, Chair (Liberal)

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• Hon. Mike Lake for Matt Jeneroux (Conservative)
House of Commons
• Marie-Hélène Sauvé, Legislative Clerk
 
Library of Parliament
• Sarah Dodsworth, Analyst
• Kelly Farrah, Analyst
Children's Health
As an individual
• Dr. Anne Monique Nuyt, Chair and Chief, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal and Centre hospitalier universitaire Sainte-Justine
• Dr. Caroline Quach-Thanh, Pediatrician, Infectious Diseases and Medical Microbiologist and Physician Lead, Infection Prevention and Control, Centre hospitalier universitaire Sainte-Justine
First Nations Child and Family Caring Society of Canada
• Cindy Blackstock, Executive Director
Pursuant to Standing Order 108(2) and the motion adopted by the committee on Wednesday, February 9, 2022, the committee resumed its study of children's health.

The witnesses made statements and answered questions.

At 12:28 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 12:32 p.m., the sitting resumed.

Committee Business
The committee proceeded to the consideration of matters related to committee business.

Motion

Don Davies moved, — That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the committee conduct a study to investigate reports that the Minister of Health personally intervened with the independent and arms-length Patented Medicine Prices Review Board (PMPRB) to indefinitely suspend reform that would have saved Canadians billions on drug costs; that the committee invite the following witnesses, in addition to any further witnesses the committee may consider relevant:

  • Hon. Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Health;
  • Matthew Herder, former member, PMPRB;
  • Mélanie Bourassa Forcier, former acting chair, PMPRB; and
  • Douglas Clark, former executive director, PMPRB;

that the committee report its findings and recommendations to the House; and that, pursuant to Standing Order 109, the committee request that the government table a comprehensive response to the report.

Debate arose thereon.

Amendment

Adam van Koeverden moved, — That the motion be amended by adding the words “of the” after the word “study”; and by deleting the words “to investigate reports that the Minister of Health personally intervened with the independent and arms-length” and “to indefinitely suspend reform that would have saved Canadians billions on drug costs;”.

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Adam van Koeverden and it was agreed to, by a show of hands: YEAS: 11; NAYS: 0.

Amendment

Luc Thériault moved, — That the motion be amended by deleting the words “and Douglas Clark, former executive director, PMPRB;”.

A point of order was raised as to the procedural acceptability of the proposed amendment.

RULING BY THE CHAIR

The chair ruled that the amendment was admissible because a problem with interpretation affected the mover’s ability to participate.

Whereupon, Stephen Ellis appealed the decision of the Chair.

The question: "Shall the decision of the Chair be sustained?" was put and was agreed to by show of hands: YEAS: 6; NAYS: 5.

Accordingly, the Chair’s decision was sustained.

The debate on the amendment continued.

The question was put on the amendment of Luc Thériault and it was negatived, by a show of hands: YEAS: 1; NAYS: 10.

The question was put on the motion, as amended, and it was agreed to, by a show of hands: YEAS: 11; NAYS: 0.

The motion, as amended, read as follows:

That pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the committee conduct a study of the Patented Medicine Prices Review Board (PMPRB), and that the committee invite the following witnesses in addition to any further witnesses the committee may consider relevant:

  • Hon. Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Health;
  • Matthew Herder, former member, PMPRB;
  • Mélanie Bourassa Forcier, former acting chair, PMPRB; and
  • Douglas Clark, former executive director, PMPRB;

that the committee report its findings and recommendations to the House; and that, pursuant to Standing Order 109, the committee request that the government table a comprehensive response to the report.

At 1:06 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.



Patrick Williams
Clerk of the committee