HESA Committee Meeting

The Standing Committee on Health met at 11:07 a.m. this day, in Room 237-C Centre Block, the Chair, Bonnie Brown, presiding.

Réal Ménard moved, — That the Standing Committee on Health ask the Minister of Health to appear before it as soon as possible, to bring the Members of the Committee up to date on the health-care agreement of September 15, 2004.

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

Rob Merrifield moved, — That the Committee call on the Health Minister to appear prior to Friday, November 19, 2004, to answer questions on the Main and Supplementary Estimates, for a minimum of two hours.

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

Rob Merrifield moved, — That the Committee call on the Minister of State (Public Health) to appear at the committee's regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, October 26, 2004, from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.; and that the Chief Public Health Officer also be invited to appear from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m., at the same meeting.

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

On motion of Rob Merrifield, it was agreed, — That the following two motions be added to the routine motions of the Standing Committee on Health:
1) That whenever the Main Estimates or the Supplementary Estimates are tabled in the House, the Committee invite the Minister and any relevant senior officials of the Department to appear at a televised meeting, if possible, of the Committee.
2) That whenever a Chapter of a Report of the Auditor General refers to a subject under the mandate of the Committee, the Committee invite the Office of the Auditor General of Canada and any relevant senior officials of the Department to appear at a televised meeting, if possible, of the Committee.

On motion of Robert Thibault, it was agreed, — That Christopher Knowles be invited to appear before the Standing Committee on Health at his convenience.

Réal Ménard moved, — That the Committee devote three working sessions to studying the circumstances around the firing of three Health Canada researchers, Doctors Shiv Chopra, Margaret Haydon and Gérard Lambert, and that a report be tabled in the House, if necessary.

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

Rob Merrifield moved, — That this Committee, in recognition of the recommendation of the Krever Inquiry and the large surplus in the federal Hepatitis C compensation fund, urge the government to extend compensation to all those who contracted Hepatitis C from tainted blood.

Debate arose thereon.

Réal Ménard moved, — That the motion be amended by adding at the end of line 3 “; further that the managers of the fund, the Hemophilia Society and other relevant witnesses be invited to meet with the Committee on this subject; and that a report be tabled in the House, if necessary“.

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Réal Ménard and it was agreed to.

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

At 12:05 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.