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

Issue 40 - Minutes of Proceedings

[English]

The Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology met this day in the Jolliet Room of the Fairmont Queen Elizabeth Hotel, Montreal, Quebec, at 9:00 a.m.,the Acting Chair, the Honourable Yves Morin, presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Keon, Kirby, Léger, Maheu, Morin, Pépin, and Robertson (7).

In attendance: From the Parliamentary Research Branch of the Library of Parliament: Howard Chodos, Research Officer.

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 continued its consideration of the special study on the state of the health care system in Canada. (For a complete text of the Order of Reference see Proceedings of the Committee, Issue No. 2.)

WITNESSES:

From the Association des optométristes du Québec:

Dr. Langis Michaud, President;

Marie-Josée Crête, Deputy Director General;

Clairmont Girard, Advisor.

From the Collège des médecins du Québec:

Dr. Yves Lamontagne, President;

Dr. André Garon, Deputy Secretary General.

As an Individual:

Robert Dorion.

From the Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association:

Mark Daniels, President;

Greg Traversy, Executive Vice-President;

Yves Millette, Senior Vice-President, Québec Affairs;

Frank Fotia, Vice-President, Group Insurance.

As Individuals:

Dr. Margaret A. Somerville, Acting Director, McGill Centre for Medicine, Ethics and Law, McGill University;

Dr. Robyn Tamblyn, Associate Professor, Department of Economics, McGill University.

From Merck Frosst Canada Ltd.:

Kevin Skilton, Director, Policy Planning;

Dr. Terrance Montague, Executive Director, Patient Health.

From l'Association québécoise des droits des retraités (AQDR):

Ann Gagnon, Advisor on Health;

Yollande Richer, Vice-President, Communications;

Myroslaw Smereka, Director General.

Dr. Michaud made a statement and, together with Mr. Girard, answered questions.

Dr. Lamontagne made a statement and, together withDr. Garon, answered questions.

Mr. Dorion made a statement and answered questions.

At 11:30 a.m., the committee suspended.

At 1:50 p.m., the committee resumed, the Chair, the Honourable Michael Kirby, presiding.

Messrs. Daniels, Traversy, and Millette made a statement and, together with Mr. Fotia, answered questions.

Mr. Skilton, and Doctors Tamblyn, Somerville, and Montague made statements and answered questions.

At 3:10 p.m., the Honorable Senator Morin took the Chair.

Mr. Smereka, Ms Gagnon, and Ms Richer made a statement and answered questions.

At 3:55 p.m., it was agreed that the committee adjourn to the call of the Chair.

ATTEST:

Till Heyde

 Acting Clerk of the Committee.