Health committee  We tried that, particularly about the technology. We're still waiting.

Health committee  I think that would be one option. Another would be to leave in the level 2s but to make lots of amendments just so that it's comprehensive and you're not artificially leaving something out of it that applies to the majority of labs in the country.

Health committee  We understand the security clearances apply to level 3 and level 4 personnel, but even in the level 2 labs, my understanding is that explicit lists of folks coming in and out of labs will be required. That would be quite a challenge for many facilities to manage. There was anot

Health committee  If I could speak to the point I was making about organisms within one risk group like level 3, perhaps they need to be treated differently if biosecurity is the big concern. MTB, the agent of tuberculosis, is not the biosecurity threat that bacillus anthracis, the agent of anthra

Health committee  I think we've already demonstrated that we would be in agreement with that. It would just allow us to agree to something more explicit.

Health committee  I wasn't at the last information session because notice of it was given days before it happened. At the first information session last year, more specific details were made known to us that were not reflected in the amendment of the legislation the second time around. I think w

Health committee  I didn't raise that.

Health committee  No, because it clearly states somewhere that specimen collection is exempted.

Health committee  I would still prefer to see regulations first that address all of those issues--because they span a real breadth of different areas that affect the labs operationally--before having legislation go out. Then we could work on the regulations in partnership with PHAC.

Health committee  There would be lots of different specific points throughout the legislation that would refer to level 2 and how it was different from levels 3 and 4. It's not just inventory; it's authorization of folks coming into labs and maintaining lists of people who come in and out of labs.

Health committee  Thank you for inviting me to speak today. First I would like to give you a little bit of background information. I'm an infectious diseases specialist and medical microbiologist working out of the community lab situated in a hospital, the Credit Valley Hospital in Mississauga.