HESA Committee Meeting

The Standing Committee on Health met at 3:36 p.m. this day, in Room 253-D Centre Block, for the purpose of electing a Chair, pursuant to Standing Order 106(1).

On motion of Michael John Savage, it was agreed, — That Bonnie Brown be elected Chair of the Committee.

On motion of Steven John Fletcher, it was agreed, — That Rob Merrifield be elected as Official Opposition Vice-Chair of the Committee.

On motion of Nicole Demers, it was agreed, — That Réal Ménard be elected as opposition Vice-Chair of the Committee.

On motion of Colin Carrie, it was agreed, — That the Committee retain the services of analysts from the Library of Parliament, as needed, to assist the Committee in its work, at the discretion of the Chair.

On motion of Brenda Chamberlain, it was agreed, — That the Chair be authorized to hold meetings to receive and publish evidence when a quorum is not present provided that at least three(3) members are present including a member of the opposition; and that the Chair be authorized to call a meeting to order no sooner than fifteen(15) minutes after the time indicated on the notice of meeting as long as three(3) members are present.

On motion of Ruby Dhalla, it was agreed, — 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 at the discretion of the Chair.

On motion of Réal Ménard, it was agreed, — That the Clerk of the Committee be authorized to distribute to the members of the Committee documents only when they exist in both official languages; and that no documents provided by witnesses be distributed unless authorized by the Clerk.

On motion of Brenda Chamberlain, it was agreed, — That the Clerk of the Committee, in consultation with the Chair, be authorized to make the necessary arrangements to provide for working meals for the Committee.

On motion of James Lunney, it was agreed, — That one copy of the transcript of all in camera meetings be kept in the Committee Clerk’s office for consultation by members of the Committee.

On motion of Ruby Dhalla, it was agreed, — That, except for amendments to bills, forty-eight(48) hours’ notice be given before any substantive motion is considered by the Committee ; and that the motion be filed with the Clerk of the Committee and circulated to members in both official languages; and that notice given on a Friday be deemed to have been given on the following Monday. Upon receipt of the notice, the Clerk shall put the motion on the agenda of the Committee’s next meeting.

On motion of Bill Blaikie, it was agreed, — That, unless otherwise ordered, each Committee member be allowed to have one staff person present at in camera meetings, only when the member himself or herself, is absent for a documented reason.

On motion of Réal Ménard, it was agreed, — That the Committee be authorized to purchase documents for the use of the Committee.

On motion of Rob Merrifield, it was agreed, — That all questioning of witnesses be limited to five(5) minutes per member and that the Chair direct the first two(2) questions to members of the Official Opposition, followed by five(5) minutes for the Bloc québécois, five(5) minutes for the Liberal Party, five(5) minutes for the New Democratic Party; and that subsequent questions be alternately shared between government and opposition members, at the discretion of the Chair. 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 Liberal Party during the first round of questioning; and that thereafter five(5) minutes per party be allocated alternating between the opposition and government members, at the discretion of the Chair.

On motion of Bill Blaikie, it was agreed, — That the Committee do now adjourn.

At 4:29 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.