Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Social Affairs, Science and Technology
Issue 8 - Fifth and Sixth Reports of the Committee
Thursday, June 22, 2006
The Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology has the honour to present its
FIFTH REPORT
Your Committee was authorized by the Senate on Tuesday, April 25, 2006 to examine and report on issues arising from, and developments since, the tabling of its final report on the state of the health care system in Canada in October 2002, and in particular was authorized to examine issues concerning mental health and mental illness, respectfully requests that it be empowered to engage the services of such counsel, technical, clerical and other personnel as may be necessary for the purpose of such study.
Pursuant to Chapter 3:06, section 2(1)(c) of the Senate Administrative Rules, the budget submitted to the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration and the report thereon of that Committee are appended to this report.
Respectfully submitted,
WILBERT JOSEPH KEON
Deputy Chair
STANDING SENATE COMMITTEE ON
SOCIAL AFFAIRS, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
SPECIAL STUDY ON MENTAL HEALTH
APPLICATION FOR BUDGET AUTHORIZATION
FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING MARCH 31, 2007
Extract from the Journals of the Senate of Tuesday, April 25, 2006:
The Honourable Senator Keon moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Stratton:
That the 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 the 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 Thirty-seventh and Thirty-eighth Parliaments be referred to the Committee;
That the Committee submit its final report no later than June 30, 2006 and that the Committee retain all powers necessary to publicize the findings of the Committee until September 30, 2006; 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.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
Paul C. Bélisle
Clerk of the Senate
SUMMARY OF EXPENDITURES
| Professional and Other Services | $ 2,500 |
| Transportation and Communications | 10,000 |
| All Other Expenditures | 42,000 |
| TOTAL | $ 54,500 |
The above budget was approved by the Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology on Wednesday, May 17, 2006.
The undersigned or an alternate will be in attendance on the date that this budget is considered.
| Date | The Honourable Michael J.L. Kirby | |
| Chair, Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology |
| Date | The Honourable George Furey | |
| Chair, Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration |
FOR INFORMATION ONLY
| 2003-2004 | 2004-2005* | 2005-2006 | |||
| 37-2 | 37-3 | 37-3 | 38-1 | 38-1 | |
| Budget approved | $124,100 | $50,700 | $7,100 | $ 132,000 | $ 814,500 |
| Expenditure | $ 28,892 | $ 11,321 | $ 6,299 | $ 2,378 | $ 438,128 |
* The expenditures for 2004-2005, 38th Parliament, 1st Session are as of February 7, 2005.
STANDING SENATE COMMITTEE ON
SOCIAL AFFAIRS, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
SPECIAL STUDY ON MENTAL HEALTH
EXPLANATION OF BUDGET ITEMS
APPLICATION FOR BUDGET AUTHORIZATION
FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING MARCH 31, 2007
PROFESSIONAL AND OTHER SERVICES
| 1. Membership and Registration fees (0406) | $ 1,000 | ||
| 2. Working Meals (0415) | |||
|
1,500 | ||
| Sub-total — Professional and Other Services | $ 2.500 |
TRANSPORTATION AND COMMUNICATIONS
| 1. Conference participation and public engagements to promote the report (national or international) | |||
|
$ 10,000 | ||
| Sub-total — Transportation and Communications | $ 10,000 |
ALL OTHER EXPENDITURES
| 1. Miscellaneous (0799) | $ 2,000 | ||
| 2. Courrier Services (0213) (mailing of reports) | |||
|
25,000 | ||
| 3. Binding of report (final report) | 15,000 | ||
| Sub-total — All Other Expenditures | $ 42,000 | ||
| TOTAL | $ 54,500 |
The Senate administration has reviewed this budget application.
| Heather Lank, Principal Clerk, Committees Directorate | Date |
| Hélène Lavoie, Director of Finance | Date |
APPENDIX (B) TO THE REPORT
Thursday, June 22, 2006
The Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration has examined the budget presented to it by the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology for the proposed expenditures of the said Committee for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2007 for the purpose of its Special Study on mental health, as authorized by the Senate on Tuesday, April 25, 2006. The said budget is as follows:
Professional and Other Services $ 2,500
Transportation and Communications 10,000
Other Expenditures 42,000
Total $ 54,500
(includes funding for public hearings and conference attendance)
Respectfully submitted,
GEORGE J. FUREY
Chair
Thursday, November 2, 2006
The Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology has the honour to present its
SIXTH REPORT
Your Committee, to which was referred Bill C-5, An Act respecting the establishment of the Public Health Agency of Canada and amending certain Acts has, in obedience to the Order of Reference of Thursday, September 28, 2006, examined the said Bill and now reports the same without amendment.
Attached as an appendix to this Report are the observations of your Committee on Bill C-5.
Respectfully submitted,
ART EGGLETON
Chair
APPENDIX
Observations appended to the 6th Report of the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology
The Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology (The Committee) has heard testimony on Bill C-5, The Public Health Agency of Canada Act and has passed the bill without amendment. It would like however to take the opportunity to make the Senate aware of various issues which need to be addressed in the operations of the Public Health Agency of Canada. Specifically, the Committee wants more recognition of First Nations and Inuit health issues and it wants recognition of the First Nations and Inuit in health legislation.
Therefore, your Committee appends to this report certain observations on the Bill.
A. Link to Health Canada's First Nations and Inuit Health Branch
The Committee is concerned that there is no obligation for the Chief Public Health Officer or the Agency to include the First Nations and Inuit Health Branch of Health Canada in its consultations or operations as the Bill is currently written. It requests that a formal and ongoing link be established between this branch of Health Canada and the Agency
B. Reports
The Committee emphasizes that the Agency should report on the public health status of First Nations and Inuit. As a component of this it wants the Chief Public Health Officer to consider appointing medical officers, as provided for under clause 13 of the Bill, who will represent First Nations and Inuit concerns and who will report regularly on their activities.
C. Committees
The Committee asks that there be an obligation for representation of First Nations and Inuit on the advisory and other committees established by the Minister.
D. Privacy and Data Collection
The Committee is aware that the issue of privacy in data collection has been raised by First Nations. The Committee wants assurances that data will be collected and disseminated only with appropriate consent and privacy safeguards for First Nations and Inuit individuals.
E. First Nations and Inuit Public Health Act
The Committee notes that there is no legislative basis for the Federal Government's role and responsibility for provision of health services for First Nations and Inuit. The Committee wants the Government to work collaboratively with First Nations and Inuit in the development of a First Nations and Inuit Public Health Act and other relevant statutes. The Committee intends to be seized of this matter of dealing with public health issues with respect to First Nations and Inuit.
F. Review of the Agency
The Committee will recall the Agency for a full review of their operations after six months in order to determine the extent to which it has implemented these observations and, specifically, to confirm the Agency's commitment to the First Nations and Inuit.