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HESA Committee Meeting

Notices of Meeting include information about the subject matter to be examined by the committee and date, time and place of the meeting, as well as a list of any witnesses scheduled to appear. The Evidence is the edited and revised transcript of what is said before a committee. The Minutes of Proceedings are the official record of the business conducted by the committee at a sitting.

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Minutes of Proceedings

44th Parliament, 1st Session
Meeting 93
Monday, December 4, 2023, 11:03 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Televised
Presiding
Sean Casey, Chair (Liberal)

• Hon. Bardish Chagger for Marcus Powlowski (Liberal)
• Gérard Deltell for Robert Kitchen (Conservative)
• Andy Fillmore for Jenica Atwin (Liberal)
• Darren Fisher for Jenica Atwin (Liberal)
• Matt Jeneroux for Robert Kitchen (Conservative)
• Gord Johns for Don Davies (NDP)
• Wilson Miao for Brendan Hanley (Liberal)
• Rick Perkins for Shuvaloy Majumdar (Conservative)
• Julie Vignola for Luc Thériault (Bloc Québécois)
Library of Parliament
• Kelly Farrah, Analyst
• Tu-Quynh Trinh, Analyst
Canadian Institutes of Health Research
• Samuel Weiss, Scientific Director, Institute of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Addiction
Department of Health
• Jennifer Saxe, Associate Assistant Deputy Minister, Controlled Substances and Cannabis Branch
• Carol Anne Chénard, Acting Director General, Office of Controlled Substances
• Kelly Robinson, Director General, Marketed Health Products Directorate
Department of Indigenous Services
• Jennifer Novak, Director General, Mental Wellness, First Nations and Inuit Health Branch
Department of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
• Marie-Hélène Lévesque, Director General, Law Enforcement Policy Directorate
Public Health Agency of Canada
• Shannon Hurley, Associate Director General, Centre for Mental Health and Wellbeing
Pursuant to Standing Order 108(2) and the motion adopted by the committee on Wednesday, November 8, 2023, the committee commenced its study of the opioid epidemic and toxic drug crisis in Canada.

Jennifer Saxe made a statement and, with the other witnesses, answered questions.

Motion

Brendan Hanley moved, — That, as part of its study of the opioid epidemic and toxic drug crisis in Canada, the committee invite the Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health for one hour, and that the meeting take place no later than Monday, February 19, 2024.

Debate arose thereon.

Amendment

Stephen Ellis moved, — That the motion be amended by replacing the words “Monday, February 19, 2024” with the words “Monday, January 15, 2024”.

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Stephen Ellis and it was negatived on the following recorded division:

YEAS: Todd Doherty, Stephen Ellis, Matt Jeneroux, Shuvaloy Majumdar — 4;

NAYS: Darren Fisher, Brendan Hanley, Gord Johns, Majid Jowhari, Marcus Powlowski, Sonia Sidhu, Luc Thériault — 7.

The debate resumed on the motion.

Amendment

Darren Fisher moved, — That the motion be amended by replacing the words “Monday, February 19, 2024” with the words “Friday, February 2, 2024”.

The question was put on the amendment of Darren Fisher and it was agreed to, by a show of hands: YEAS: 11; NAYS: 0.

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, as part of its study of the opioid epidemic and toxic drug crisis in Canada, the committee invite the Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health for one hour, and that the meeting take place no later than Friday, February 2, 2024.

Questioning of the witnesses resumed.

It was agreed, — That, for the study of the opioid epidemic and toxic drug crisis in Canada, members of the committee submit their complete witness lists to the clerk not later than 4 p.m. on Friday, December 15, 2023.

At 1:03 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 1:07 p.m., the sitting resumed.

Department of Public Works and Government Services
• Andrea Andrachuk, Director General
• Joëlle Paquette, Director General, Procurement Support Services Sector
Office of the Auditor General
• Andrew Hayes, Deputy Auditor General
• Susan Gomez, Principal
Pursuant to Standing Order 108(2) and the motion adopted by the committee on Wednesday, November 8, 2023, the committee commenced its study of the government's advanced purchase agreement for vaccines with Medicago.

Andrea Andrachuk and Andrew Hayes made statements and, with Joëlle Paquette, answered questions.

At 2:00 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.



Christine Sing
Clerk of the committee