Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Foreign Affairs
Issue 4 - Minutes of Proceedings
OTTAWA, Wednesday, May 12, 2004
(10)
[Translation]
The Standing Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs met this day at 3:10 p.m. in room 160-S of the Centre Block, the Chair, the Honourable Peter A. Stollery, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Austin, P.C., Corbin, Di Nino, Graham, P.C., Keon, Kinsella, Lynch-Staunton, Mahovlich, Milne, Sparrow and Stollery (11).
Other senators present: The Honourable Senators Day and Morin (2).
Also present: From the Committees Branch: Till Heyde, Committee Clerk; From the Research Branch of the Library of Parliament: Peter Berg, Lalita Acharya and Kristen Douglas, analysts.
In attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.
Pursuant to the Order of Reference passed by the Senate on Tuesday May 11, 2004, the committee considered Bill C-9, to amend the Patent Act and the Food and Drugs Act (The Jean Chrétien Pledge to Africa).
APPEARING:
The Honourable Bill Graham, P.C., M.P., Minister of Foreign Affairs;
The Honourable Lucienne Robillard, P.C., M.P., Minister of Industry.
WITNESSES:
From Industry Canada:
Susan Bincoletto, Acting Director General, Marketplace Framework Branch;
Éric Dagenais, Director, Patent Policy Directorate;
Doug Clark, Senior Project Leader, Patent Policy Directorate;
Vishva V. Ramlall, Senior Policy Officer, Corporate Strtegies Branch, Canadian Intellectual Property Office;
Rob Sutherland-Brown, Senior Counsel, Industry Canada Legal Services.
From Health Canada:
Dr. Robert Peterson, Director General, Therapeutic Products Directorate, Health Products and Food Branch;
David K. Lee, Directorate, Office of Patented Medicines and Liaison, Therapeutic Products Directorate, Health Products and Food Branch.
From the Canadian International Development Agency:
Sandra Black, Director, Social Development Policies, Policy Branch.
From Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada:
Christopher Armstrong, Senior Advisor, HIV/AIDS, Human Rights, Humanitarian Affairs and International Women's Equality Division.
From Canada's Research-Based Pharmaceutical Companies:
Jean-François Leprince, President, Aventis Pharmaceutical, Chair, Rx&D Intellectual Property Committee;
Terry McCool, Vice-President, Corporate Affairs, Eli Lilly Canada Inc., Vice-Chair, Rx&D Intellectual Property Committee;
Adrienne Blanchard, Legal Counsel, Gowling, Lafleur and Henderson.
From the Canadian Generic Pharmaceutical Association:
Jim Keon, President.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs made a presentation and answered questions.
The Minister of Industry made a presentation and, aided by Messrs. Dagenais and Peterson, answered questions.
Mr. Ramlall answered questions.
At 4:14 p.m., the committee suspended its proceedings.
At 4:18 p.m., the committee resumed its proceedings.
Messrs. Leprince and McCool made a presentation and, along with Ms. Blanchard, answered questions.
Mr. Keon made a presentation and answered questions.
It was agreed that the committee proceed with the clause-by-clause study of Bill C-9, to amend the Patent Act and the Food and Drugs Act (The Jean Chrétien Pledge to Africa).
It was agreed that the title be reported.
It was agreed that clause 1 be adopted.
It was agreed that clause 2 be adopted.
It was agreed that clause 3 be adopted.
It was agreed that clause 4 be adopted.
It was agreed that schedule 1 be adopted.
It was agreed that schedule 2 be adopted.
It was agreed that schedule 3 be adopted.
It was agreed that schedule 4 be adopted.
It was agreed that the title be adopted.
It was agreed that Bill C-9 be adopted without amendment.
It was agreed that the Chair report on the bill at the next sitting of the Senate.
It was agreed that the Deputy Chair report on the bill at the next sitting of the Senate in the Chair's absence.
At 5:22 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
ATTEST:
François Michaud
Clerk of the Committee