3rd Session - 42nd Legislature

TIME – 5:30 p.m.

LOCATION – Winnipeg, Manitoba

CHAIRPERSON – Mr. Andrew Micklefield (Rossmere)

VICE-CHAIRPERSON – Ms. Audrey Gordon (Southdale)

ATTENDANCE – 6 QUORUM – 4

Members of the Committee present:

Hon. Mr. Cullen, Hon. Mrs. Stefanson

Mses. Fontaine, Gordon, Mr. Micklefield, Mrs. Smith

MATTERS UNDER CONSIDERATION:

Bill 9—The Opioid Damages and Health Care Costs Recovery Act

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Clerk Assistant (Ms. Katerina Tefft): Good afternoon. Will the Standing Committee on Justice please come to order.

Before the committee can proceed with the business before it, it must elect a new Chairperson.

Are there any nominations for this position?

Ms. Audrey Gordon (Southdale): I nominate the member for Rossmere (Mr. Micklefield).

Clerk Assistant: Mr. Micklefield has been nominated.

Are there any other nominations?

Hearing no other nominations, Mr. Micklefield, will you please take the Chair.

Mr. Chairperson: Our next item of business is the election of a new Vice-Chairperson.

Are there any nominations?

Mr. Cliff Cullen (Minister of Justice and Attorney General): I nominate Ms. Gordon.

Mr. Chairperson: Ms. Gordon has been nominated.

Are there any other nominations?

Hearing no other nominations, Ms. Gordon is elected Vice-Chairperson.

This meeting has been called to consider Bill 9, The Opioid Damages and Health Care Costs Recovery Act.

We have no registered presenters to this bill.

Bill 9–The Opioid Damages and Health Care Costs Recovery Act

Mr. Chairperson: We will now proceed with clause-by-clause of Bill 9.

Does the minister responsible for Bill 9 have any–have an opening statement?

Hon. Cliff Cullen (Minister of Justice and Attorney General): Mr. Chair, just briefly. I'm pleased to have introduced this legislation, which will allow Manitoba to join a class action lawsuit that was launched by British Columbia in 2018. This lawsuit aims to hold to account opioid manufacturers whose products have had and continue to have damaging effects on the health and well-being of Manitobans.

Once passed, Manitoba would join British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick in pursuing action against the opioid industry.

This builds on our government's investments in expanding the continuum of care for mental health and addictions related to–related challenges in our province and aligns with recommendations of a number of reports including VIRGO, the Illicit Drug Task Force and the Community Wellness and Public Safety Alliance reports.

I look forward to the support of the committee and the House in having this bill passed so that we can take on pharmaceutical companies that have created such a significant and ongoing harm to Manitobans.

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Mr. Chairperson: We thank the minister.

Does the critic from the official opposition have an opening statement?

During the consideration of a bill, the enacting clause and title are postponed until all other clauses have been considered in their proper order.

Also, if there is agreement from the committee, the Chair will call clauses in blocks that conform to pages, with the understanding that we will stop at any particular clause or clauses where members may have comments, questions or amendments to propose. Is that agreed? [Agreed]

I now invite all virtual committee members to unmute themselves so that their responses to the question can be heard.

As a reminder to all, the members of this committee are myself; Honourable Mr. Cullen; Ms. Fontaine; Ms. Gordon; Mrs. Smith, Point Douglas; and Honourable Mrs. Stefanson.

Clause 1—pass; clause 2—pass; clause 3—pass; clause 4—pass; clause 5—pass; clauses 6 and 7—pass; clause 8—pass; clauses 9 through 11—pass; clauses 12 and 13—pass; clauses 14 and 15—pass; schedule—pass; enacting clause—pass; title—pass. Bill be reported.

The hour being 5:35, what is the will of the committee?

Some Honourable Members: Rise.

Mr. Chairperson: Committee rise.

COMMITTEE ROSE AT: 5:35 p.m.