THE STANDING SENATE COMMITTEE ON SOCIAL AFFAIRS, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
OTTAWA, Thursday, April 23, 2026
(35)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology met this day at 10:32 a.m., in room B45, Senate of Canada Building, the deputy chair, the Honourable Sharon Burey, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Arnold, Burey, Hay, Kingston, Muggli, Osler, Petitclerc and Senior (8).
Participating in the meeting: Laura Blackmore and Mayra Perez-Leclerc, Analysts, Library of Parliament.
Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Thursday, March 26, 2026, the committee continued its consideration of Bill S-5, An Act respecting the interoperability of health information technology and to prohibit data blocking by health information technology vendors.
WITNESSES:
INOVAIT:
Philip Boyer, Program Manager, Health Data Innovation.
Digital Governance Council:
Keith Jansa, Chief Executive Officer.
QHR Technologies:
Mike Checkley, President (by videoconference).
Ontario Medical Association:
Dr. Zainab Abdurrahman, President;
Robert Fox, Chief Executive Officer, OntarioMD.
As individuals:
Anne Snowdon, Professor, University of Windsor, and Chief Executive Officer, Supply Chain Advancement Network in Health;
Alexis McGill, Assistant Professor and Research Chair in Health Innovation, Faculty of Nursing and Health Sciences, University of New Brunswick;
Dr. Ivar Mendez, Professor of Neurosurgery and Director of the Virtual Health Hub, University of Saskatchewan (by videoconference).
Anne Snowdon, Alexis McGill and Ivar Mendez each made a statement and answered questions.
At 11:31 a.m., the committee suspended.
At 11:36 a.m., the committee resumed.
Philip Boyer, Keith Jansa, Mike Checkley, Zainab Abdurrahman and Robert Fox each made a statement and answered questions.
At 12:19 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
Ferda Simpson
Clerk of the Committee