Proceedings of the Subcommittee on Population Health
Issue 1 - Minutes of Proceedings
OTTAWA, Thursday, November 15, 2007
(1)
[English]
The Subcommittee on Population Health of the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology met at 11:00 a.m. this day, in room 705, Victoria Building, for the purpose of holding its organization meeting.
Members of the subcommittee present: The Honourable Senators Brown, Callbeck, Cook, Fairbairn, P.C., Keon, and Pépin (6).
Other senator present: The Honourable Senator Eggleton, P.C.
In attendance: Odette Madore and Michael Toye, Analysts, Parliamentary Information and Research Services, Library of Parliament.
Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.
The committee proceeded to organize.
The clerk of the subcommittee presided over the election of the chair.
The Honourable Senator Pépin moved that the Honourable Senator Keon do take the chair of this subcommittee.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Keon took the chair.
The Honourable Senator Callbeck moved that the Honourable Senator Pépin be deputy chair of this subcommittee.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Pépin moved:
That the chair, the deputy chair and the Honourable Senator Cook be empowered to make decisions on behalf of the subcommittee with respect to its agenda, to invite witnesses and schedule hearings.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Pépin moved:
That the subcommittee 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.
The Honourable Senator Fairbairn, P.C., moved:
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 subcommittee from both the government and the opposition be present.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Callbeck moved:
That the chair, on behalf of the subcommittee, ask the Library of Parliament to assign analysts to the subcommittee.
That the chair, the deputy chair and Senator Cook be authorized to retain the services of such experts as may be required by the work of the subcommittee; and
That the chair, on behalf of the subcommittee, direct the research staff in the preparation of studies, analyses, summaries and draft reports.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Fairbairn, P.C., moved:
That, pursuant to section 32 of the Financial Administration Act, and section 7, Chapter 3:06 of the Senate Administrative Rules, authority to commit funds be conferred individually on the chair, the deputy chair and the clerk of the subcommittee; and
That, pursuant to section 34 of the Financial Administration Act, and section 8, Chapter 3:06 of the Senate Administrative Rules, authority for certifying accounts payable by the subcommittee be conferred individually on the chair, the deputy chair, and the clerk of the subcommittee.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Pépin moved:
That the subcommittee empower the chair, deputy chair and Senator Cook, to designate as required, one or more members of the subcommittee and/or such staff as may be necessary to travel on assignment on behalf of the subcommittee.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Fairbairn, P.C., moved:
That the chair, deputy chair and Senator Cook be authorized to:
1) determine whether any member of the subcommittee 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 subcommittee to be on «official business» if that member is: (a) attending a function, event or meeting related to the work of the subcommittee; or (b) making a presentation related to the work of the subcommittee.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Pépin moved:
That, pursuant to the Senate guidelines for witnesses expenses, the subcommittee 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.
The Honourable Senator Fairbairn, P.C., moved:
That the chair, deputy chair and Senator Cook be empowered to allow, at their discretion, coverage by electronic media of the subcommittee's public proceedings with the least possible disruption of its hearings
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The chair noted that the time slot for meeting of the subcommittee is Wednesdays 4:00 - 6:00 p.m.
The Honourable Senator Pépin moved:
That each subcommittee member be allowed to have staff persons present at in camera meetings, unless there is a decision for a particular meeting to exclude all staff.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
At 11:05 a.m., pursuant to rule 92 (2)(e), the subcommittee continued in camera to consider a draft agenda.
It was agreed that Frances Shapiro Munn, Lynne Champoux-Williams and Mary Rose Hillyer, students at McGill University who were shadowing senators for their work day, be permitted to remain for the in camera session.
The subcommittee discussed future business.
At 11:45 a.m., it was agreed that the subcommittee adjourn to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
OTTAWA, Thursday, November 22, 2007
(2)
[English]
The Subcommittee on Population Health met this day at 11:00 a.m., in room 257 East Block, the Chair, the Honourable Wilbert J. Keon, presiding.
Members of the subcommittee present: The Honourable Senators Brown, Callbeck, Cochrane, Cook, Fairbairn P.C., Keon, and Pépin (7).
Other senator present: The Honourable Senator Eggleton P.C.
In attendance: Odette Madore and Michael Toye, Analysts, Parliamentary Information and Research Services, Library of Parliament.
Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.
Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Tuesday, November 20, 2007, the subcommittee began its examination on population health.
WITNESSES (by video conference):
Swedish Ministry of Health and Social Affairs:
Irene Nilsson-Carlsson, Deputy Director General, Public Health Division.
Swedish National Institute of Public Health:
Dr. Gunnar Ågren, Director General;
Bernt Lungren, Public Health Policy Expert.
Karolinska Institute, Department of Public Health Sciences:
Piroska Östlin, Senior Researcher.
Ms. Nilsson-Carlsson, Dr. Ågren, Mr. Lungren, and Dr. Ostlin, each made a statement and, together, responded to questions.
The Honourable Senator Pépin moved:
That the following special study budget application (population health) be approved for submission to the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology:
Summary of Expenditures:
Professional and Other Services $120,500 Transportation and Communications $ 53,070 All Other Services $ 8,250 Total $ 181,820
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
At 12:50 p.m., it was agreed that the subcommittee adjourn to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
OTTAWA, Wednesday, November 28, 2007
(3)
[English]
The Subcommittee on Population Health met this day at 4:06 p.m., in room 9 Victoria Building, the Chair, the Honourable Wilbert J. Keon, presiding.
Members of the subcommittee present: The Honourable Senators Brown, Callbeck, Cochrane, Cook, Fairbairn, P.C., Keon, and Pépin (7).
Other senators present: The Honourable Senators Eggleton, P.C. and Munson (2).
In attendance: Odette Madore and Michael Toye, Analysts, Parliamentary Information and Research Services, Library of Parliament.
Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.
Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on November 20, 2007, the subcommittee continued its examination on the social determinants of health.
WITNESSES:
The Quaich Inc:
Patsy Beattie-Huggan, President.
McMaster University:
John Eyles, Professor, School of Geography and Earth Sciences.
PEI Department of Health:
Teresa Hennebery, Assistant Deputy Minister, Health Operations.
Ms. Beattie-Huggan, Mr. Eyles and Ms Hennebery each made a statement and answered questions.
At 5:55 p.m., the subcommittee suspended.
At 5:58 p.m., pursuant to rule 92(2)(e ), the subcommittee continued in camera to consider a draft agenda.
At 6:12 p.m., it was agreed that the subcommittee adjourn to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
Barbara Reynolds
Clerk of the Subcommittee