HESA Committee Meeting

     Honourable members of the committee, I see a quorum.

    Pursuant to Standing Order 106(2), your first order of business is to elect a chair. I'm ready to receive motions to that effect.

    Mr. Lunney.

    Madam Clerk, I'd like to nominate my colleague Rob Merrifield.

    It has been moved by Mr. Lunney that Mr. Rob Merrifield be elected as chair of the committee. Are there further nominations?

    Is it the pleasure of the committee to adopt the motion?

    (Motion agreed to)

    I declare the motion carried and Mr. Rob Merrifield duly elected chair of the committee.

    We'll now proceed with the election of first vice-chair.

    I'm ready to receive nominations for the official opposition vice-chair.

    I'd like to nominate Dr. Carolyn Bennett.

    It has been moved by Ruby Dhalla that Dr. Carolyn Bennett be elected vice-chair of the committee. Are there further nominations?

    Is it the pleasure of the committee to adopt the motion?

    (Motion agreed to)

    I declare the motion carried and Dr. Carolyn Bennett duly elected as vice-chair of the committee.

    Our next item of business is the election of the second vice-chair.

    I am ready to receive motions to that effect.

    I move that Ms. Christiane Gagnon be elected second vice-chair.

    Are there any other nominations?

    Is it the pleasure of the committee to adopt the motion?

    (Motion agreed to)

    I declare the motion carried and Ms. Christiane Gagnon duly elected second vice-chair of the committee.

    I now invite the chair to come to the front, please.

    First of all, I want to thank you for your confidence. I was waiting with bated breath to see how many of the opposition wanted to raise their hands to nominate. Nonetheless, I knew you were about to, so I want to thank the committee for their confidence.

    We've had an interesting time so far at committee, and I believe we're going to have some productive work ahead of us that will be something we can all look back on and be proud of, as far as moving ahead the agenda with regard to health in the country.

    I want to congratulate new members to the committee. Dr. Carolyn Bennett--new or old--we've been around the table before and I'm pleased that you're here. You are passionate about health care, and I know you have lots to contribute as well.

    Congratulations to Christiane as well, although she's not here. She'll do a very fine job.

    With that preliminary work out of the way, I want to adjourn this meeting. I believe there's about five or ten minutes and then we will move on. Before we do that, the chair recognizes Ms. Bennett.

    As the new old member of the committee, I was wondering if there were such a thing as a steering committee that works on work plans and those kinds of things, in terms of the chair or vice-chair, to make sure all parties are represented.

    What we have been doing, and it's been the history of the committee--when you were on it last as well--is trying to do as much as we can with the entire committee. If we get bogged down to the point at which we can't be functional, then we move to a steering committee. We have addressed that with regard to steering committees as to procedures in the last session. I don't think we have to repeat those; those would simply continue.

    Who are the members of the steering committee?

    The two vice-chairs and the chair, I believe.

    But not a member of the NDP?

     I can't remember. I shouldn't say that because whatever they are.... At any rate, they are what they are, and if we want to amend them or move them, I guess we can bring forward a notice of motion to do so, if the committee so wishes.

    Let's adjourn the meeting and take a ten-minute break.

    The meeting is adjourned.