HEAL Committee Meeting
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STANDING COMMITTEE ON HEALTH
COMITÉ PERMANENT DE LA SANTÉ
EVIDENCE
[Recorded by Electronic Apparatus]
Thursday, February 22, 2001
• 0911
[English]
The Clerk of the Committee: Members of the committee, I see a quorum.
In conformity with Standing Order 106(1) and (2), your first item of business is to elect a chair. I'm ready to receive motions to that effect.
Mr. Bonin.
Mr. Ray Bonin (Nickel Belt, Lib.): I nominate Bonnie Brown.
The Clerk: Mr. Bonin moves that Bonnie Brown do take the chair of the committee.
(Motion agreed to)
The Clerk: I declare Bonnie Brown duly elected as chair of the committee, and I invite her to take the chair.
Some hon. members: Hear, hear.
Ms. Judy Wasylycia-Leis (Winnipeg North Centre, NDP): A new beginning, right?
The Chair (Ms. Bonnie Brown (Oakville, Lib.)): Yes, thank you very much, ladies and gentlemen, and Mr. Clerk. I appreciate your confidence. I hope we will have a very positive and productive session.
The clerk should tell us when our usual meeting time is, but I would like to reserve the right to bring this topic up in a minute. I think we first should go to the election of the vice-chairs.
Are there any nominations?
Mr. Yvon Charbonneau (Anjou—Rivière-des-Prairies, Lib.): I nominate Judy Sgro.
The Chair: It is moved that Judy Sgro be made a vice-chair.
(Motion agreed to)
The Chair: Are there any further nominations?
Mrs. Diane Ablonczy (Calgary—Nose Hill, Canadian Alliance): Madam Chair, I would like to nominate Rob Merrifield for vice-chair.
The Chair: Rob Merrifield's name has been put forward.
(Motion agreed to)
The Chair: We now have a chair and two vice-chairs to carry on these meetings. Thank you very much.
Now we'll move to that other item of business, which is the usual meeting time, 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
I believe Mr. Ménard has a point to make here.
[Translation]
Mr. Réal Ménard (Hochelaga—Maisonneuve, BQ): Madam Chair, I believe we're expected shortly in the House to hear an address from the British Prime Minister.
Tuesday mornings will present a problem for me until the month of April. Since I enjoy this committee so much and hope to make a very positive contribution as a member, I'm asking whether members would be willing to reschedule the Tuesday morning meetings to Tuesday afternoons or Wednesday afternoons. I've already consulted briefly with a few colleagues who were receptive to the idea and I have to admit that this solution would make my life much easier. I realize that this is an exceptional request, given that committees have assigned time slots, but circumstances being what they are, I would hope that we could be flexible.
Perhaps this is not the time to discuss a scheduling change since we are expected in the House. Maybe we could broach the subject at our next meeting, if it isn't scheduled for next Tuesday morning. In any event, I just wanted to let you know about my scheduling conflict.
[English]
The Chair: Are there any comments on that?
• 0915
[Translation]
Mr. Yvon Charbonneau: We'll consult among ourselves and if possible, we'll try to work out some kind of arrangement. We can't decide this today, but we have taken note of your request and will get to it first at our next meeting, Madam Chair.
[English]
The Chair: Thank you.
I'd like to ask the clerk to look into this, because there could be a room problem. There is a whole set of meetings at 3:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and a whole set at 9 a.m. We're in that 11 o'clock slot.
I also think we should consider the possibility of making our meeting, instead of 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., perhaps 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. That would allow Réal to be here probably by about 12:15 p.m.
Is that another possibility, Réal?
[Translation]
Mr. Réal Ménard: From noon until 2 p.m.? Could we not meet after Question Period? In any event, as Yvon was saying, you'll think about it. However, if we were to meet after Question Period, I think it would be simpler for everyone. Wouldn't you agree?
I know you'll do whatever you can, Madam Chair.
[English]
The Chair: I was only trying to set out the options, but, yes, I think the clerk has to examine that, and maybe the whip will have to as well.
Ms. Marlene Catterall (Ottawa West—Nepean, Lib.): It may create time conflicts for other people with other committees.
The Chair: Exactly.
So I guess we can say that the next meeting will be at the usual time, Tuesday at 11 a.m. We'll discuss this further at that time, when we have reports back as to the feasibility of changing it. If we could change it... Well, I'll let you think about it.
As for this morning, this meeting is now adjourned. We'll pick up the business on Tuesday morning.
Thank you very much.
