HESA Committee Meeting

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MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

Meeting No. 20

Monday, February 14, 2005

The Standing Committee on Health met at 3:29 p.m. this day, in Room 253-D Centre Block, the Chair, Bonnie Brown, presiding.

Members of the Committee present: Bonnie Brown, Colin Carrie, Nicole Demers, Steven John Fletcher, James Lunney, Réal Ménard and Rob Merrifield.

Acting Members present: Hon. Sue Barnes for Hon. Robert Thibault, Marlene Jennings for Michael John Savage, Pat Martin for Jean Crowder and Anthony Rota for Hon. Brenda Chamberlain.

In attendance: Library of Parliament: Nancy Miller Chenier, Analyst ; Sonya Norris, Analyst ; Andrew Kitching, Analyst.

Witnesses: Department of Health: Ian Shugart, Assistant Deputy Minister, Health Policy Branch; Wayne Lepine, Director, Pharmaceutical Policy, Quality Care, Technology and Pharmaceuticals Division, Health Care Policy Directorate, Health Policy Branch; Étienne Ouimette, Acting Director, Compliance and Enforcement Coordination Division, Inspectorate Ottawa, HPFB Inspectorate, Health Products and Food Branch.

Pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), and the motion adopted by the Committee on Thursday, February 3, 2005, the Committee commenced its study on Internet Pharmacies.

Ian Shugart made a statement and, with the other witnesses, answered questions.

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

Pat Martin moved, — That the Standing Committee on Health study the health effects of asbestos laden vermiculite insulation.

Debate arose thereon.

By unanimous consent, the motion was withdrawn.

A point of order was raised regarding the motion adopted by the Committee on Thursday, October 21, 2004, concerning the circumstances around the firing of three Health Canada researchers.

After debate, it was agreed, - That the Committee would meet in camera with the scientists in question, before the end of June 2005.

Rob Merrifield took the Chair.

Pursuant to Standing Order 32(5), the Committee resumed consideration of the Proposed Regulations Amending the Tobacco Reporting Regulations, pursuant to the Tobacco Act, S.C. 1997, c. 13, sbs. 42.1(1), referred to the Committee on Tuesday, December 14, 2004.

On motion of Bonnie Brown, it was agreed, - That, in the Proposed Regulations Amending the Tobacco Reporting Regulations, the proposed amendment 3 be further amended by deleting the words: “the Minister must be able to manipulate the test results; and”, and replacing them with the following: “the Minister must be able to electronically process the test results without having to re-copy or re-enter them; and”

On motion of Sue Barnes, it was agreed, — That the Committee also recommend that all information to be submitted to Health Canada under these regulations be made public. If need be, the Minister of Health should authorize its disclosure in the public interest in accordance with Section 20(6) of the Access to Information Act.

On motion of Sue Barnes, it was agreed, — That, pursuant to Standing Order 109, the Committee request that the Government table a response to the report.

On motion of Réal Ménard, it was agreed, — That the Chair report the Proposed Regulations Amending the Tobacco Reporting Regulations, to the House of Commons, with the agreed amendment and recommendations.

At 5:25 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.

Carmen DePape
Clerk of the Committee

2005-02-18 4:02 p.m.