Evidence of meeting #154 for Finance in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was bank.
A video is available from Parliament.
7:20 p.m.
NDP
Pierre-Luc Dusseault NDP Sherbrooke, QC
We are talking about wildlife protection and not species at risk.
7:20 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Wayne Easter
Okay.
Regarding the idea of treating an entity as a crown corporation for this purpose, has that happened before? It's not a crown corporation, but you're treated as a crown corporation for a specific decision, or sale, or whatever.
Are there other instances where that's happened or is this a new development?
7:25 p.m.
Acting Director, Arctic Science Policy Integration, Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development
I'm not aware of it, but I can get back to the committee on this.
7:25 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Wayne Easter
Okay. I just find that strange that you're acting like a crown corporation, but you're not.
If you can find an example, find it.
I believe that's it on this division.
Go ahead, Mr. Dusseault.
7:25 p.m.
NDP
Pierre-Luc Dusseault NDP Sherbrooke, QC
Do we know what is involved in the transfer of real property and immovables?
Are significant costs involved?
7:25 p.m.
Acting Director, Arctic Science Policy Integration, Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development
It is a transfer between the Department of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada and another federal organization. Administration of the station is simply being transferred to another department. The new department has the funds needed to manage the buildings.
7:25 p.m.
Acting Director, Arctic Science Policy Integration, Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development
I do not have that information with me.
7:25 p.m.
Acting Director, Arctic Science Policy Integration, Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development
It is fairly large. There are four separate buildings: a large research centre, an office complex, and two buildings with apartments for visiting researchers.
7:25 p.m.
Acting Director, Arctic Science Policy Integration, Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development
Yes. The station is almost 7,000 m2.
7:25 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Wayne Easter
It will be the pride of the north, Mr. McLeod. Thank you very much for your information.
We're now turning to division 10, “Canadian Institutes of Health Research Act”. We have Mr. Sylvain, who is director general, corporate and government affairs, Canadian Institutes for Health Research.
Welcome, and you know the drill.
7:25 p.m.
Christian Sylvain Director General, Corporate and Government Affairs, Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Good evening everyone.
Three amendments to the Canadian Institutes of Health Research Act are being proposed in the bill. I will describe them very briefly.
The first and perhaps most important is to separate the roles of president and chairperson of the governing council. Currently these two roles are combined and held by the same person.
The second is to simplify the language to describe the responsibility of the governing council to establish policies and to clarify to whom certain powers can be delegated.
The third would ensure that the French version of the act is clear because the term “président” is used to refer to both the chair of the Governing Council and the organization's chief executive officer. This creates confusion.
These three changes will modernize the governance of our agency. I'd be happy to answer questions you may have.
7:25 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Wayne Easter
Are there any questions for Mr. Sylvain?
We'll have a quick one from Mr. Albas.
7:25 p.m.
Conservative
Dan Albas Conservative Central Okanagan—Similkameen—Nicola, BC
There are 18 members on the board, correct?
7:25 p.m.
Director General, Corporate and Government Affairs, Canadian Institutes of Health Research
There are up to 18 members.
7:25 p.m.
Conservative
Dan Albas Conservative Central Okanagan—Similkameen—Nicola, BC
Is that to represent a diverse confederation? Are there provincial representatives and then an executive? That's a really large group.
7:25 p.m.
Director General, Corporate and Government Affairs, Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Yes, it is in part to capture the diversity of the health research community that is 13,000-strong in the country. There are so many different disciplines and so many sectors that we feel a board of that magnitude is needed.
7:25 p.m.
Director General, Corporate and Government Affairs, Canadian Institutes of Health Research
However, we rarely have 18 members.
7:25 p.m.
NDP
Pierre-Luc Dusseault NDP Sherbrooke, QC
Clause 253(1)(a) of the bill, which probably concerns CIHR's mandate, states the following: “developing its strategic directions and goals”. I do not have the current version of the legislation. What change is being requested?
7:25 p.m.
Director General, Corporate and Government Affairs, Canadian Institutes of Health Research
The term “policies” appears in two places within this section of the act, which creates confusion internally. The goal is to combine these two paragraphs into a single paragraph in order to give the Governing Council the authority required to establish all the organization's policies.
The change will simplify the text.
7:25 p.m.
NDP