HESA Committee Meeting

The Standing Committee on Health met at 3:39 p.m. this day, in Room 268, La Promenade Building, the Chair, Joy Smith, presiding.

It was agreed, — That the Committee retain, as needed and at the discretion of the Chair, the services of one or more analysts from the Library of Parliament to assist it in its work.

On motion of Colin Carrie, it was agreed, — That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be composed of five (5) members including the Chair, the two (2) Vice-Chairs, the Parliamentary Secretary, and a member of the Conservative Party;

That quorum for the Subcommittee consist of at least three (3) members;

That each member of the Subcommittee be permitted to have one (1) staff member present at any meetings of the Subcommittee, and that each party of the Subcommittee be permitted to have one (1) staff member from its Whip or House Leader’s Office present at any meetings.

On motion of Colin Carrie, it was agreed, — That the Chair be authorized to hold meetings to receive and publish evidence when a quorum is not present, provided that at least four (4) members are present, including one (1) member from the opposition and one (1) member from the government; and

That in the case of previously scheduled meetings taking place outside of the Parliamentary Precinct, the Committee members in attendance be required to wait for 15 minutes following the designated start of the meeting before they may proceed to hear witnesses and receive evidence, regardless of whether opposition or government members are present.

On motion of Colin Carrie, it was agreed, — That only the Clerk of the Committee be authorized to distribute documents, including motions, to the members of the Committee;

That, except in cases where there is unanimous consent to proceed otherwise, all documents distributed amongst the Committee members by the Clerk be in both official languages; and

That the Clerk advise all witnesses appearing before the Committee of this requirement.

Colin Carrie moved, — That the Clerk of the Committee, in consultation the Chair, be authorized to make the necessary arrangements to provide for working meals and that the cost of these meals be charged to the Committee budget.

Debate arose thereon.

On motion of Hedy Fry, it was agreed, — That the motion be amended by adding after the word “budget” the following: “That, subject to availability, the working meals of the Committee be balanced and nutritious”.

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

The motion, as amended, read as follows:

That the Clerk of the Committee, in consultation the Chair, be authorized to make the necessary arrangements to provide for working meals and that the cost of these meals be charged to the Committee budget; and

That, subject to availability, the working meals of the Committee be balanced and nutritious.

On motion of Colin Carrie, it was agreed, — That, if requested, reasonable travel, accommodation and living expenses be reimbursed to witnesses not exceeding two (2) representatives per organization, and that, in exceptional circumstances, payment for more representatives be made at the discretion of the Chair.

On motion of Colin Carrie, it was agreed, — That, unless otherwise ordered, each Committee member in attendance be permitted to have one (1) staff member present at in camera meetings, and that each party be permitted to have one (1) staff member from its Whip or House Leader’s Office present at in camera meetings.

On motion of Colin Carrie, it was agreed, — That one (1) copy of the transcript of each in camera meeting be kept in the Committee Clerk's office for consultation by members of the Committee or by their staff.

Colin Carrie moved, — That forty-eight (48) hours' notice be required for any substantive motion to be considered by the Committee, unless the substantive motion relates directly to business then under consideration;

That the notice of motion be filed with the Clerk of the Committee and distributed to members in the both official languages; and

That motions received be distributed to the members the same day.

Debate arose thereon.

On motion of Libby Davies, it was agreed, — That the motion be amended by adding after the words “That motions received” the following: “by 4:00 p.m. Monday to Thursday and 2:00 p.m. on Friday”.

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

The motion, as amended, read as follows:

That forty-eight (48) hours' notice be required for any substantive motion to be considered by the Committee, unless the substantive motion relates directly to business then under consideration;

That the notice of motion be filed with the Clerk of the Committee and distributed to members in the both official languages; and

That motions received by 4:00 p.m. Monday to Thursday and 2:00 p.m. on Friday be distributed to the members the same day.

On motion of Colin Carrie, it was agreed, — That witnesses be allowed up to ten (10) minutes to make their opening statements; and

That during the questioning of witnesses seven (7) minutes be allotted for the first round of questioning and, in the second and subsequent rounds of questioning, five (5) minutes be allotted for each questioner.

Colin Carrie moved, — That the order of questions for the first round of questioning be as follows: Conservative Party (CPC), New Democratic Party (NDP), CPC, Liberal Party;

That questioning during the second round should alternate between the government members and the opposition members in the following fashion: CPC, NDP, CPC, NDP, CPC, NDP, CPC, based on the principle that each Committee member should have the opportunity to question the witnesses, and

That if time permits further rounds should repeat the pattern of the first two at the discretion of the Chair.

Debate arose thereon.

Libby Davies moved, — That the motion be amended by replacing the words “Conservative Party (CPC), New Democratic Party (NDP), CPC, Liberal Party;

That questioning during the second round should alternate between the government members and the opposition members in the following fashion: CPC, NDP, CPC, NDP, CPC, NDP, CPC” with the words “New Democratic Party (NDP), Conservative Party (CPC), Liberal Party, CPC;

That questioning during the second round should alternate between the opposition members and the government members in the following fashion: NDP, CPC, NDP, CPC, NDP, CPC, CPC, Liberal Party”.

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Libby Davies and it was agreed to.

The question was put on the motion, as amended, and it was agreed to, by a show of hands: YEAS: 9; NAYS: 2.

The motion, as amended, read as follows:

That the order of questions for the first round of questioning be as follows: New Democratic Party (NDP), Conservative Party (CPC), Liberal Party, CPC;

That questioning during the second round should alternate between the opposition members and the government members in the following fashion: NDP, CPC, NDP, CPC, NDP, CPC, CPC, Liberal Party, based on the principle that each Committee member should have the opportunity to question the witnesses, and

That if time permits, further rounds should repeat the pattern of the first two at the discretion of the Chair.

At 4:19 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 4:20 p.m., the sitting resumed.

On motion of Colin Carrie, it was agreed, — That the Committee, at the earliest convenience, undertake a review of the proposed tobacco regulations and report back to the House.

It was agreed, — That, on Monday, June 20, 2011, the Committee hold a meeting on the proposed tobacco regulations and that the Clerk of the Committee invite witnesses to appear on this study.

At 4:32 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.