THE STANDING SENATE COMMITTEE ON SOCIAL AFFAIRS, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
EVIDENCE
OTTAWA, Wednesday, November 27, 2024
The Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology met this day at 4:17 p.m. [ET] for clause-by-clause consideration of Bill C-252, An Act to amend the Food and Drugs Act (prohibition of food and beverage marketing directed at children); and, in camera, to discuss observations.
Senator Rosemary Moodie (Chair) in the chair.
[English]
The Chair: Senators, I call to order this meeting of the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology. My name is Rosemary Moodie, a senator from Ontario and the chair of this committee.
Before we begin, I would like to do a round table and have senators introduce themselves.
Senator Senior: Paulette Senior, Ontario.
Senator McBean: Marnie McBean, Ontario. I am visiting this committee today.
Senator Muggli: Tracy Muggli, Saskatchewan, Treaty 6 territory and homeland of the Métis. This is officially my first time at this committee.
[Translation]
Senator Boudreau: Good afternoon. Victor Boudreau from New Brunswick.
Senator Cormier: Good afternoon. René Cormier from New Brunswick.
[English]
Senator Burey: Sharon Burey, Ontario.
Senator Osler: Gigi Osler, Manitoba.
[Translation]
Senator Petitclerc: Good afternoon. Chantal Petitclerc from Quebec.
Senator Brazeau: Good afternoon. Patrick Brazeau from Quebec.
[English]
Senator Seidman: Judith Seidman, Quebec.
Senator Dasko: Donna Dasko, Ontario.
[Translation]
Senator Mégie: Marie-Françoise Mégie from Quebec.
Senator Youance: Suze Youance from Quebec.
[English]
The Chair: Thank you.
Today, we are proceeding to clause-by-clause consideration of Bill C-252, An Act to amend the Food and Drugs Act (prohibition of food and beverage marketing directed at children).
I would like to welcome back officials from Health Canada, who are with us in the room, Dr. Joyce Boye, Director General, Food and Nutrition Directorate, Health Products and Food Branch; Dr. Alfred Aziz, Director, Bureau of Nutritional Sciences, Food and Nutrition Directorate, Health Products and Food Branch; and Mr. David Lee, Chief Regulatory Officer, Health Products and Food Branch.
Before we begin, I would like to remind senators of a number of points. First, if at any point a senator is not clear where we are in the process, please ask for clarification. I want to ensure that, at all times, we all have the same understanding of where we are in the process.
In terms of the mechanics of the process, when more than one amendment is proposed to be moved in a clause, amendments should be proposed in order of the lines of the clause. If a senator is opposed to an entire clause, the proper process is not to move a motion to delete the entire clause but rather to vote against the clause as standing as part of the bill. Some amendments moved may have consequential effects on other parts of the bill. It is therefore useful to this process if a senator moving an amendment were to identify for the committee other clauses in the bill where the amendment could have an effect. Otherwise, it would be very difficult for members of the committee to remain consistent in their decision-making.
Because no notice is required to move amendments, there can, of course, have been no preliminary analysis of the amendments to establish which one may be of consequence to others and which may be contradictory. If committee members ever have questions about the process or about the priority of anything occurring, they can certainly raise a point of order. As chair, I will listen to the arguments, decide when there has been sufficient discussion of a matter or an order and then make a ruling. The committee is the ultimate master of its business within the bounds established by the Senate. A ruling can be appealed to the full committee by asking whether the ruling should be sustained.
I wish to remind honourable senators that if there is ever any uncertainty as to the results of a voice vote or a show of hands, the most effective route is to request a roll-call vote, which provides unambiguous results.
Finally, senators are aware that any tied vote negates the motion in question.
I hope there are no questions on the above. Seeing none, I will proceed. We are going into clause by clause.
Is it agreed that the committee proceeds to clause-by-clause consideration of Bill C-252, An Act to amend the Food and Drugs Act (prohibition of food and beverage marketing directed at children)?
Hon. Senators: Yes.
The Chair: Shall the title stand postponed?
Hon. Senators: Yes.
The Chair: Shall the preamble stand postponed?
Hon. Senators: Yes.
The Chair: Shall clause 1, which contains the short title, stand postponed?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: Shall clause 2 carry?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: Shall clause 3 carry?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: Shall clause 4 carry?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: Shall clause 1, which contains the short title, carry?
Hon. Senators: Agree.
The Chair: Shall the preamble carry? Shall the title carry?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: Shall the title carry?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: Shall the bill carry?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: Colleagues, we will now go in camera for a discussion about observations. I will ask officials and any members of the public present to please leave the room.
(The committee continued in camera.)