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SOCI - Standing Committee

Social Affairs, Science and Technology

 

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE Thursday, November 2, 2006

The Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology

has the honour to present its

SIXTH REPORT


Your Committee, to which was referred Bill C-5, An Act respecting the establishment of the Public Health Agency of Canada and amending certain Acts has, in obedience to the Order of Reference of Thursday, September 28, 2006, examined the said Bill and now reports the same without amendment.

Attached as an appendix to this Report are the observations of your Committee on Bill C-5.

Respectfully submitted,

Original signed by
Art Eggleton, P.C.
Chair


APPENDIX

Observations appended to the 6th Report of the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology

The Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology (The Committee) has heard testimony on Bill C-5, The Public Health Agency of Canada Act and has passed the bill without amendment.  It would like however to take the opportunity to make the Senate aware of various issues which need to be addressed in the operations of the Public Health Agency of Canada.  Specifically, the Committee wants more recognition of First Nations and Inuit health issues and it wants recognition of the First Nations and Inuit in health legislation.

Therefore, your Committee appends to this report certain observations on the Bill.

A.  Link to Health Canada’s First Nations and Inuit Health Branch

The Committee is concerned that there is no obligation for the Chief Public Health Officer or the Agency to include the First Nations and Inuit Health Branch of Health Canada in its consultations or operations as the Bill is currently written.  It requests that a formal and ongoing link be established between this branch of Health Canada and the Agency

 

B.  Reports

The Committee emphasizes that the Agency should report on the public health status of First Nations and Inuit.  As a component of this it wants the Chief Public Health Officer to consider appointing medical officers, as provided for under clause 13 of the Bill, who will represent First Nations and Inuit concerns and who will report regularly on their activities.

 

C.  Committees

The Committee asks that there be an obligation for representation of First Nations and Inuit on the advisory and other committees established by the Minister.

 

D.  Privacy and Data Collection

The Committee is aware that the issue of privacy in data collection has been raised by First Nations.  The Committee wants assurances that data will be collected and disseminated only with appropriate consent and privacy safeguards for First Nations and Inuit individuals.

 

E.  First Nations and Inuit Public Health Act

The Committee notes that there is no legislative basis for the Federal Government’s role and responsibility for provision of health services for First Nations and Inuit.  The Committee wants the Government to work collaboratively with First Nations and Inuit in the development of a First Nations and Inuit Public Health Act and other relevant statutes.  The Committee intends to be seized of this matter of dealing with public health issues with respect to First Nations and Inuit.

 

F.  Review of the Agency

The Committee will recall the Agency for a full review of their operations after six months in order to determine the extent to which it has implemented these observations and, specifically, to confirm the Agency’s commitment to the First Nations and Inuit.


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