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

Issue 5 - Minutes of Proceedings

[English]

The Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology met this day, in Room 705, Victoria Building, at 11:05 p.m., the Chair, the Honourable Michael Kirby, presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Callbeck, Cook, Cordy, Fairbairn, P.C., Kirby, LeBreton, Morin and Robertson (8).

Other senator present: The Honourable Senator B. Alasdair Graham, P.C. (1).

In attendance: From the Research Branch of the Library of Parliament: Odette Madore and Howard Chodos, from the Committees and Private Legislation Directorate: Josée Thérien, Legislative Clerk.

Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.

Pursuant to the Order of Reference adopted by the Senate on Thursday, March 1, 2001, the Committee began 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. 2.)

WITNESSES:

From the Canadian Association of Radiologists:

Dr. John Radomsky, President.

From the Canadian Coordinating Office for Health Technology Assessment (CCHOTA):

Dr. Jill Sanders, President and CEO.

From the Fraser Institute:

Martin Zelder, Director of Health Policy Research.

As an individual:

Professor David Feeny.

The Chair made a statement.

Dr. Radomsky made a statement. Mr. Zelder made a statement. Dr. Sanders made a statement. Professor Feeny made a statement. The witnesses answered questions.

At 1:10 p.m., the committee continued in camera.

It was moved by Senator Robertson -- That, after receiving final comments from members and at the Chair's discretion, the Outline on Phase Four of the committee's study on the state of the health care system in Canada be released to the public.

After debate, the question being put on the motion, it was adopted.

It was moved by Senator Robertson -- That the Chair be authorized to seek the following order of reference from the Senate:

That the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology be authorized to examine and report upon the state of federal government policy relating to the preservation and promotion of a sense of community and national belonging in Canada. In particular, the Committee shall be authorized to examine:

(a) the effectiveness of the policies, programs, symbols and institutions that have been used in the past to promote and protect Canadian distinctiveness or which have fostered an element of Canadian distinctiveness merely by their existence;

(b) the effects of globalization and rapid technological change on Canada's ability to preserve and promote its distinctiveness at home and abroad;

(c) the options that exist to modernize federal policies with respect to preserving, creating and promoting the uniqueness of Canada in a changing national and international context;

(d) the opportunities that exist to use new technologies to market our unique qualities to the world and to engender pride in Canadians about themselves and their country.

That the committee submit its final report no later than December 20, 2002; and

That the committee be permitted, notwithstanding usual practices, to deposit any report with the Clerk of the Senate, if the Senate is not then sitting; and that the report be deemed to have been tabled in the Chamber.

After debate, the question being put on the motion, it was adopted.

The committee discussed future business.

At 1:25 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.

ATTEST:

Catherine Piccinin

Clerk of the Committee