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

Issue 7 - Minutes of Proceedings

TORONTO, Thursday, February 17, 2005
(12)

[English]

The Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology met at 9 a.m., this day, in the Vanity Fair Room, at the Royal Meridien King Edward Hotel in Toronto, the Honourable Michael Kirby, Chair, presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Callbeck, Cochrane, Cook, Cordy, Keon, Kirby, Pépin and Trenholme Counsell (8).

In attendance: From the Library of Parliament Research Branch: Howard Chodos, Research Analyst, Political and Social Affairs Division; Tim Riordan, Analyst, Political and Social Affairs Division, Nicole Pogue, Intern.

Also present: The official reporters of the Senate.

Pursuant to the Order of Reference adopted by the Senate on Thursday, October 7, 2004, the committee continued its examination on the state of the health care system in Canada, in particular issues concerning mental health and mental illness. (See Issue No. 1, Wednesday, October 20, 2004, for the full text of the Order of Reference.)

WITNESSES:

Hong Fook Mental Health Association:

Raymond Chung, Executive Director.

Across Boundaries, Ethnoracial Mental Health Centre:

Martha Ocampo, Co-director.

As an individual:

Raymond Cheng.

Canadian Mental Health Association (Toronto Branch):

Steve Lurie, Executive Director.

Victorian Order of Nurses (VON):

Gordon Milak, VON Middlesex-Elgin.

Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention:

Dr. Paul Links, President, Professor of Psychiatry, University of Toronto.

Ontario Hospital Association:

Dr. Paul Garfinkel, Chair, Working Committee on Mental Health.

Schizophrenia Society of Canada:

Florence Budden, President-Elect.

Canadian Collaboration Mental Health Initiative:

Dr. Nick Kates, Chair.

Raymond Chung, Martha Ocampo and Raymond Cheng each made a statement. Together the witnesses answered questions.

At 10:40 a.m., the committee suspended its sitting.

At 10:45 a.m., the committee resumed its sitting.

Steve Lurie, Paul Links and Gordon Milak each made a statement. Together the witnesses answered questions.

At 12:05 p.m., the committee suspended its sitting.

At 12:10 p.m., the committee resumed its sitting.

Nick Kates, Florence Budden and Paul Garfinkel each made a statement.

Together the witnesses answered questions.

At 1:20 p.m., it was agreed that the committee adjourn to the call of the Chair.

ATTEST:

Josée Thérien

Clerk of the Committee