HESA Committee Meeting

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MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

Meeting No. 3

Thursday, May 11, 2006

The Standing Committee on Health met at 11:04 a.m. this day, in Room 237-C, Centre Block, the Chair, Rob Merrifield, presiding.

Members of the Committee present: Dave Batters, Bonnie Brown, Patricia Davidson, Nicole Demers, Rick Dykstra, Steven John Fletcher, Hon. Hedy Fry, Christiane Gagnon, Rob Merrifield and Penny Priddy.

Acting Members present: Sukh Dhaliwal for Hon. Ken Dryden and Francis Scarpaleggia for Hon. Brenda Chamberlain.

In attendance: Library of Parliament: Nancy Miller Chenier, Analyst ; Sonya Norris, Analyst ; Marlisa Tiedemann, Analyst.

Appearing: Hon. Tony Clement, Minister of Health.

Witnesses: Public Health Agency of Canada: David Butler-Jones, Chief Public Health Officer; Jane Allain, General Counsel, Legal Services.

Pursuant to the Order of Reference of Monday, May 8, 2006, the Committee commenced consideration of Bill C-5, An Act respecting the establishment of the Public Health Agency of Canada and amending certain Acts.

The Chair called Clause 1.

The Minister made a statement and, with David Butler-Jones, answered questions.

At 12:24 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 12:32 p.m., the sitting resumed.

Pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the Committee commenced its study of silicone gel-filled breast implants.

Nicole Demers moved, — That the Standing Committee on Health ask the Minister of Health not to make a decision regarding the sale and licensing of silicone gel breast implants in Canada until the Committee has received convincing evidence of the safety of the implants for women.

After debate, the question was put on the motion and it was agreed to, by a show of hands: YEAS: 7; NAYS: 3.

Nicole Demers moved, — Whereas:

The Standing Committee on Health learned from Vivian Ellis of the Canada Public Health Agency, at the meeting of October 27, 2005, that the epidemiological study begun in 1996 on silicone breast implants had been completed and that it was to be published in a medical journal in November.

The Committee requested this study on November 21, 2005, and has not received anything in five months.

It is proposed that the Standing Committee on Health once again request a copy of this study and of the medical journal in which the study was to be published, within 15 days.

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

Nicole Demers moved, — That the Standing Committee on Health call upon Health Canada and the former Chairman of the Scientific Advisory Panel, Dr. Georges Wells, to appear before the Standing Committee on Health, to provide an update on silicone breast implants; and that, following the publication of a new study entitled “Decisions in the Dark” by the National Research Center for Women and Families, and further to the criminal investigation of Mentor; the Standing Committee on Health also call Diana Zuckerman, President of the National Research Center for Women and Families, to appear before the Committee to provide members with the latest information on the events in the United States involving Mentor and Inamed.

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

At 12:59 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.

Carmen DePape
Clerk of the Committee

2007/11/09 3:14 p.m.