HEAL Committee Report
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Wednesday, May 28, 2003
(Meeting No. 38)
The Standing Committee on Health met at 3:41 p.m. this day, in Room 308, West Block, the Chair, Bonnie Brown, presiding.
Members of the Committee present: Carolyn Bennett, Bonnie Brown, Jeannot Castonguay, Brenda Chamberlain, Raymonde Folco, Betty Hinton, Rob Merrifield, Svend Robinson, Hélène Scherrer, Carol Skelton and Yolande Thibeault.
Acting Member present: Bernard Bigras for Diane Bourgeois.
In attendance: From the Library of Parliament: Nancy Miller Chenier and Sonya Norris, research officers.
Witnesses: From the Canadian Biotechnology Advisory Committee: Mary Alton Mackey, Member, and Co-chair, GM Foods Steering Committee. From the Canadian Food Inspection Agency: Greg Orriss, Director, Bureau of Food Safety and Consumer Protection; Bart Bilmer, Director, Office of Biotechnology. From the Canadian General Standards Board: Doryne Peace, Chair, Committee on Voluntary Labelling of Foods Obtained or Not Obtained through Genetic Modification; Marian Gaucher, Secretary, Committee on Voluntary Labelling of Food Obtained or Not Obtained through Genetic Modification. From the Department of Health: Karen L. Dodds, Director General, Food Directorate, Health Products and Food Branch; Paul Mayers, Acting Associate Director General, Food Directorate, Health Products and Food Branch.
Pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the Committee held a session on the labelling of genetically modified foods.
Mary Alton Mackey, Greg Orriss and Doryne Peace made brief statements and, with other witnesses, answered questions.
At 5:02 p.m., the sitting was suspended.
At 5:05 p.m., the Committee proceeded to sit in camera.
Pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the Committee resumed its study on the Canadian Strategy on HIV/AIDS.
The Committee resumed consideration of a draft report.
It was agreed, — That, the Committee adopt the draft report, entitled Strengthening the Canadian Strategy on HIV/AIDS, as amended, as the third report of the Committee to the House.
It was agreed, — That, pursuant to Standing Order 109, the Committee request that the government table a comprehensive response to this report.
It was agreed, — That the Chair be authorized to make such typographical and editorial changes as may be necessary without changing the substance of the report.
It was agreed, — That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(1)(a), the Committee authorize the printing of brief dissenting and/or supplementary opinions as appendices to this report, immediately after the signature of the Chair, and that the opinions be sent to the Clerk of the Committee in electronic form in both official languages on/or before 3:00 p.m. on Monday, June 2, 2003.
It was agreed, — That the Chair, or her designate, be authorized to present the report to the House.
It was agreed, — That the Clerk of the Committee organize a press conference on tabling day, after the tabling of the report.
It was agreed, — That, having heard the update on the labelling of genetically modified foods, the Committee not pursue the subject further at this time.
At 5:23 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
José Cadorette
Clerk of the Committee