THE STANDING SENATE COMMITTEE ON SOCIAL AFFAIRS, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

OTTAWA, Wednesday, February 9, 2022
(5)

[English]

Pursuant to the order of the Senate of November 25, 2021, the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology met this day in room B30, Senate of Canada Building, and with videoconference, at 4:01 p.m. ET, the chair, the Honourable Ratna Omidvar, presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senator Dasko (1).

Members of the committee present by videoconference: The Honourable Senators Bernard, Bovey, Kutcher, McPhedran, Mégie, Moodie, Omidvar, Patterson, Petitclerc and Verner, P.C. (10).

Participating in the meeting: Andrea Mugny, Procedural Clerk, Marc-André Lanthier and Lori Meldrum, administrative assistants, Committees Directorate; Laura Blackmore and Laura Munn-Rivard, analysts, Library of Parliament.

Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Thursday, December 9, 2021, the committee began its consideration of Bill S-209, An Act respecting Pandemic Observance Day.

WITNESSES (by videoconference):

The Honourable Senator Marie-Françoise Mégie, sponsor of the bill.

Canadian Grief Alliance:

Katherine Kortes-Miller, Member of the Executive Committee.

Canadian Medical Association:

Dr. Katharine Smart, President.

Royal Society of Canada:

Tracy Vaillancourt, Professor and Canada Research Chair in School-Based Mental Health and Violence Prevention, University of Ottawa;

Julia M. Wright, Professor, Dalhousie University;

Dr. Sharon Straus, Director, Knowledge Translation Program, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael’s Hospital, Unity Health Toronto.

The Honourable Senator Mégie made a statement and answered questions.

At 4:53 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 4:58 p.m., the committee resumed.

Katherine Kortes-Miller, Katharine Smart and Tracy Vaillancourt each made a statement and, together with Sharon Straus and Julia Wright, answered questions.

At 6:02 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

Daniel Charbonneau

Clerk of the Committee