Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Social Affairs, Science and Technology
Issue 1 - Minutes of Proceedings
OTTAWA, Wednesday February 11, 2004
(1)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology met at 6:45 p.m. this day, in room 705 Victoria Building, for the purpose of holding its organization meeting, pursuant to rule 88.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Cordy, Fairbairn, P.C., Keon, Kirby, LeBreton, Léger, Morin (7).
In attendance: From the Library of Parliament: Odette Madore
Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.
Pursuant to rule 88, the Clerk of the Committee presided over the election of the Chair.
It was moved by the Honourable Senator Keon, that the Honourable Senator Kirby be the Chair of this committee.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
It was moved by the Honourable Senator Cordy, that the Honourable Senator LeBreton be the Deputy Chair of this committee.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
It was moved by the Honourable Senator Morin:
That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be composed of the Chair, the Deputy Chair and one other member of the committee to be designated after the usual consultations; and
That the subcommittee be empowered to make decisions on behalf of the committee with respect to its agenda, to invite witnesses and schedule hearings.
The question being put on the motion, it was adoptd.
It was moved by the Honourable Senator LeBreton, that the committee print its proceedings and that the Chair be authorized to set this number to meet demand.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
It was moved by the Honourable Senator Morin, that pursuant to rule 89, the Chair be authorized to hold meetings, to receive and authorize the printing of the evidence when a quorum is not present, provided that a member of the committee of the government and the opposition be present.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
It was moved by the Honourable Senator Morin, that the committee adopt the report dealing with expenses incurred by the committee during the last session pursuant to rule 104.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
It was moved by the Honourable Senator LeBreton:
That the Chair, on behalf of the committee, ask the Library of Parliament to assign research officers to the committee;
That the Chair be authorized to seek authority from the Senate to engage the services of such counsel and technical, clerical and other personnel as may be necessary for the purpose of the committee's examination and consideration of such bills, subject-matters of bills and estimates as are referred to it;
That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be authorized to retain the services of such experts as may be required by the work of the committee; and
That the Chair, on behalf of the committee, direct the research staff in the preparation of studies, analyses, summaries and draft reports.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
It was moved by the Honourable Senator LeBreton:
That, pursuant to section 32 of the Financial Administration Act, authority to commit funds be conferred on the Chair, the Deputy Chair and the Clerk of the Commitee; and
That, pursuant to section 34 of the Financial Administration Act, and Guideline 3:05 of Appendix II of the Rules of the Senate, authority for certifying accounts payable by the Committee be conferred on the Chair, the Deputy Chair, and the Clerk of the Committee.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
It was moved by the Honourable Senator Léger, that the committee empower the Chair and Deputy Chair to designate, as required, one or more members of the committee and/or such staff as may be necessary to travel on assignment on behalf of the committee.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
It was moved by the Honourable Senator Keon, that the Chair and Deputy Chair be authorized to:
1) determine whether any member of the committee is on "official business'' for the purposes of paragraph 8(3)(a) of the Senators Attendance Policy, published in the Journals of the Senate on Wednesday, June 3, 1998; and
2) consider any member of the committee to be on "official business'' if that member is: (a) attending a function, event or meeting related to the work of the committee; or (b) making a presentation related to the work of the committee.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
It was moved by the Honourable Senator Morin, that, pursuant to the Senate guidelines for witnesses' expenses, the committee may reimburse reasonable travelling and living expenses for one witness from any one organization and payment will take place upon application, but that the Chair be authorized to approve expenses for a second witness should there be exceptional circumstances.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
It was moved by the Honourable Senator LeBreton:
That the Chair be authorized to seek authority from the Senate to permit coverage by electronic media of the committee's public proceedings with the least possible disruption of its hearings; and
That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be empowered to allow such coverage at its discretion.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
It was moved by the Honourable Senator Morin, that the Chair be authorized to seek the following order of reference from the Senate:
That Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology be authorized to examine and report on issues arising from, and developments since, the tabling of its final report on the state of health care system in Canada in October 2002. In particular, the committee shall be authorized to examine issues concerning mental health and mental illness;
That the papers and evidence received and taken by the committee on the study of mental health and mental illness in Canada in the Second Session of the Thirty-seventh Parliament be referred to the committee; and
That the committee submit its final report no later than May 30, 2004.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
It is moved by the Honourable Senator LeBreton:
That, subject to the approval of the Senate to the proposed order of reference on mental health, the budget application for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2004 be adopted; and,
That the Chair submit the budget application to the Standing Senate Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration:
|
Professional and other services |
$ 12,500 |
|
Transportation and Communications |
23,200 |
|
All other expenditures |
2,500 |
|
Total |
$ 38,200 |
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
It is moved by the Honourable Senator Cordy:
That the budget application on legislation for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2004 be adopted; and,
That the Chair submit the budget application to the Standing Senate Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration:
|
Professional and other services |
$ 3,000 |
|
Transportation and Communications |
nil |
|
All other expenditure |
300 |
|
Total |
$ 3,300 |
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
It was moved by the Honourable Senator Keon:
That subject to the committee receiving an order of reference by the Senate, the committee adopt the proposed witness list to study Bill C-6, An Act respecting assisted human reproduction and related research.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
At 7:05 p.m., it was agreed that the committee adjourn to the call of the Chair.
ATTEST:
OTTAWA, Wednesday, February 18, 2004
(2)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology met this day, at 3:33 p.m. in room 257, East Block, the Chair, the Honourable Michael Kirby, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Callbeck, Cook, Fairbairn, P.C., Keon, Kirby, LeBreton, Léger, Morin, Roberston and Roche, Trenholme Counsell (11).
Other senators present: The Honourable Senators Milne, Plamondon, Pearson (3).
In attendance: From the Parliamentary Research Branch, Library of Parliament: Sonya Norris.
Also present: The official reporters of the Senate.
Pursuant to the Order of Reference adopted by the Senate on Friday, February 13, 2004, the committee began its study on Bill C-6, An Act respecting assisted human reproduction and related research.
APPEARING:
The Honourable Pierre Pettigrew, P.C., M.P., Minister of Health, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and Minister responsible for Official Languages.
WITNESSES:
From Health Canada:
Ian Shugart, Assistant Deputy Minister, Health Policy and Communications Branch;
Caroline Weber, Director General, Planning and Priorities Directorate, Health Policy and Communications Branch;
Francine Manseau, Manager, Policy Development Group, Planning and Priorities Directorate Health Policy and Communications Branch;
Glenn Rivard, General Counsel, Legal Services.
From the Canadian Institutes Health Research:
Dr. Alan Bernstein, President.
Barbara Beckettt, Senior Associate, Stem Cell Research Policy.
From the Health Law Institute:
Timothy Caulfield, Canada Research Chair (by videoconference)
From the University of Montreal:
Bartha Maria Knoppers, Professor and Canada Research Chair in Law and Medicine (by videoconference).
From the Canadian Fertility and Andrology Society:
Dr. Calvin Green, Chair, Government Relations Committee.
From the Infertility Awareness Association of Canada:
Beverly Hanck, Executive Director.
From the Canadian Medical Association:
Dr. Eugene Bereza, Chair, Committee on Ethics.
From the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada:
Dr. Arthur Leader, Member.
The Minister made a presentation and answered questions with Glenn Rivard, Ian Shugart, Caroline Weber and Francine Manseau.
At 4:45 p.m. Senator LeBreton assumed the chair.
At 4:58 p.m., Senator Kirby returned to the chair.
Dr. Alan Bernstein, Tim Caulfield and Bartha Maria Knoppers each made a presentation and answered questions.
Dr. Calvin Green, Dr. Eugene Bereza, Dr. Arthur Leader and Beverly Hanck each made a presentation and answered questions.
At 7:36 p.m., Senator LeBreton assumed the chair.
At 7:38 p.m., Senator Kirby returned to the chair.
At 8:03 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
ATTEST:
OTTAWA, Thursday, February 19, 2004
(3)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology met this day, at 11:00 a.m. in room 705, Victoria Building, the Acting Chair, the Honourable Yves Morin, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Callbeck, Cook, Keon, LeBreton, Léger, Morin, Roche and Trenholme Counsell (8).
Other senators present: The Honourable Senators Johnson, Mahovlich, Pearson, Pépin, Plamondon and Spivak (6).
In attendance: From the Parliamentary Research Branch, Library of Parliament: Sonya Norris.
Also present: The official reporters of the Senate.
Pursuant to the Order of Reference adopted by the Senate on Friday, February 13, 2004, the committee continued its study on Bill C-6, An Act respecting assisted human reproduction and related research.
WITNESSES:
From the Robarts Research Institute:
Mick Bhatia, Director.
As an individual:
Clement Persaud, retired professor in Biotechnology.
From the University of Calgary:
Samuel Weiss, Professor.
From the Ottawa Research Institute:
Dr. Ron Worton, Chief Executive Officer and Scientific Director.
The clerk advised the committee of the unavoidable absence of the Chair and the imminent departure of the Deputy Chair and presided over the election of an Acting Chair.
The Honourable Senator LeBreton moved that Senator Morin be the Acting Chair.
The question being put on the motion, it was agreed.
Mick Bathia, Clement Persaud, Samuel Weiss and Ron Worton each made a presentation and answered questions.
The Honourable Senator Cook moved:
That the revised budget application for the study on mental health and mental illness for the fiscal year March 31, 2004 be adopted; and,
That the Chair submit the budget application to the Standing Senate Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration:
|
Professional and Other Services |
$ 17,500 |
|
Transportation and Communications |
28,700 |
|
All others Expenditures |
4,500 |
|
Total |
$ 50,700 |
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
At 12:50 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
ATTEST:
Daniel Charbonneau
Clerk of the Committee