THE STANDING SENATE COMMITTEE ON SOCIAL AFFAIRS, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
OTTAWA, Friday, June 26, 2020
(7)
[English]
Pursuant to the order of the Senate of April 11, 2020, the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology met this day by videoconference at 11:44 a.m. [ET], the chair, the Honourable Chantal Petitclerc, presiding. This meeting is considered to have taken place in the parliamentary precinct.
Members of the committee present by videoconference: The Honourable Senators Dasko, Forest-Niesing, Griffin, Kutcher, Manning, Mégie, Moodie, Munson, Omidvar, Pate, Petitclerc, Poirier and Seidman (13).
Other senators present by videoconference: The Honourable Senators Bovey, Deacon (Ontario), LaBoucane-Benson and McCallum (4).
Participating in the meeting: Keli Hogan, Vincent Labrosse and Joëlle Nadeau, Procedural Clerks, Committees Directorate; Laura Munn-Rivard and Sonya Norris, Analysts, Parliamentary Information and Research Services, Library of Parliament; Ben Silverman, Communications Officer, Communications Directorate.
Also present: The official reporters of the Senate.
Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Saturday, April 11, 2020, the committee continued its study on the government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
APPEARING (by videoconference):
The Honourable Patty Hajdu, P.C., M.P., Minister of Health.
WITNESSES (by videoconference):
Public Health Agency of Canada:
Dr. Theresa Tam, Chief Public Health Officer;
Tina Namiesniowski, President.
Health Canada:
Stephen Lucas, Deputy Minister.
Canadian Institutes of Health Research:
Dr. Michael Strong, President.
Canadian Food Inspection Agency:
Dr. Siddika Mithani, President.
Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces:
Major-General Marc Bilodeau, Deputy Surgeon General / Director General of Clinical Services, Canadian Forces Health Services Group;
Brigadier-General Lise Bourgon, Director General, Operations, Canadian Joint Operations Command.
The chair made a statement.
The minister made a statement and, together with Dr. Tam, Dr. Mithani, Mr. Lucas and Dr. Strong, answered questions.
At 1:45 p.m., the committee suspended.
At 3:32 p.m., the committee resumed.
Brigadier-General Bourgon made a statement and, together with Major-General Bilodeau, answered questions.
It was agreed that the committee proceed in camera to consider a draft report.
At 4:29 p.m., the committee suspended.
At 4:30 pm, the committee resumed in camera, pursuant to rule 12-16(1)(d), to consider a draft report.
It was agreed that one staff member for each member of the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be permitted to access the Zoom meeting during the in-camera portion of the meetings of June 26 and 29, 2020.
At 5:37 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
Daniel Charbonneau
Clerk of the Committee