Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Social Affairs, Science and Technology

Issue 12 - Minutes of Proceedings

[English]

The Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology met this day, in room 705, Victoria Building, at 11:08 a.m., the Chairman, the Honourable Michael Kirby, presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Callbeck, Carstairs, Cohen, Cook, Fairbairn, P.C., Gill, Kirby, LeBreton, Losier-Cool, Mahovlich (11:26 a.m.), Robertson and Robichaud, P.C. (Saint-Louis-de-Kent) (11:26 a.m.) (12).

Other senator present: The Honourable Senator Roche (1).

In attendance: From the Research Branch of the Library of Parliament: Odette Madore

Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.

Pursuant to the Order of Reference adopted by the Senate on Tuesday, April 4, 2000, the committee continued its consideration of Bill C-13, An Act to establish the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, to repeal the Medical Research Council Act and to make consequential amendments to other Acts. (For complete text of Order of Reference see proceedings of the committee, Issue No. 11.)

WITNESSES:

From the National Voluntary Organizations Working in Health:

Penelope Marrett.

From the Council for Health Research in Canada:

Mr. David Hill, President;

Dr. Ronald Worton, Director of Research.

Mr. Hill made a statement. Dr. Worton made a statement. Ms Marrett made a statement. The witnesses answered questions.

The Chair made a statement.

It was agreed -- That the Chair write to Dr. Henry Friesen, Chair of the Interim Governing Council of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research regarding letters received from the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples and from the Canadian Medical Association about C-13.

It was moved by Senator Carstairs -- That Bill C-13 be reported to the Senate without amendments and that the observations of the committee be attached as an appendix.

The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.

Pursuant to the Order of Reference adopted by the Senate on Thursday, December 16, 1999, the committee continued its consideration of the special study on the state of the health care system in Canada. (For complete text of Order of Reference see proceedings of the committee, Issue No. 8.)

WITNESSES:

From the University of British Columbia:

Robert G. Evans, Director, Population Health Program.

From the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives:

Colleen Fuller, Research Associate.

From the Fraser Institute:

Martin Zelder, Director of Health Policy Research.

The Chair made a statement.

Mr. Zelder made a statement. Ms Fuller made a statement. Professor Evans made a statement. The witnesses answered questions.

At 1:10 p.m., Senator Carstairs took the Chair.

At 1:12 p.m., Senator Kirby resumed the Chair.

At 1:48 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.

ATTEST:

Catherine Piccinin

Clerk of the Committee