Evidence of meeting #13 for Subcommittee on Food Safety in the 40th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was public.
A recording is available from Parliament.
5:10 p.m.
Conservative
Brian Storseth Conservative Westlock—St. Paul, AB
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I hope that doesn't impede on my time.
Mr. Attaran, did you or did you not criticize the government's policy of 100 listeria bacteria per gram?
5:10 p.m.
Liberal
Wayne Easter Liberal Malpeque, PE
Could Mr. Anderson table that information with us that's he spouting? Who did the investigation--CSIS? Is that who's working for you, spying on people now that are going to be witnesses before this committee? Is that what you're up to?
5:10 p.m.
Conservative
David Anderson Conservative Cypress Hills—Grasslands, SK
Mr. Chair, may I address that? I can do it quickly, because if Mr. Easter went to Elections Canada, he'd find one part of the information. If he read the Globe and Mail, he'd be able to find the other.
5:10 p.m.
Conservative
5:10 p.m.
Conservative
Brian Storseth Conservative Westlock—St. Paul, AB
It's nothing that Mr. Easter hasn't done in previous committee meetings. We're just trying to set the preface for this.
Mr. Attaran, have you or have you not been critical of the 100 listeria bacteria per gram standard for ready-to-eat meat?
5:10 p.m.
Professor, Institute of Population Health, University of Ottawa
Have you or have you not listened to my testimony? I saw that you were speaking during my presentation, and I was quite critical of the 100 bacteria per gram standard that is applied to ready-to-eat meat in Canada relative to similar standards in other countries. I repeated that point on at least two occasions.
5:10 p.m.
Conservative
Brian Storseth Conservative Westlock—St. Paul, AB
You're aware that this was also a policy brought in by the former Liberal government?
5:10 p.m.
Professor, Institute of Population Health, University of Ottawa
I'm not aware of which government brought it in, but I am aware that it is the policy under your government presently.
5:10 p.m.
Conservative
Brian Storseth Conservative Westlock—St. Paul, AB
Would you agree that you've been critical of the investigators' power and abilities and have called into question the independent investigation that is going on parallel to this...?
5:10 p.m.
Professor, Institute of Population Health, University of Ottawa
I'm sorry, I didn't understand your question.
5:10 p.m.
Conservative
Brian Storseth Conservative Westlock—St. Paul, AB
Have you or have you not been critical of the independent investigation that is going on parallel to this committee's investigations and its terms of reference?
5:10 p.m.
Professor, Institute of Population Health, University of Ottawa
Together with my colleagues at the Canadian Medical Association Journal--there are seven us--I co-authored this piece. It is the editorial team. We did write that the investigation was lacking relative to what has been done for other epidemics in Canada, such as the tainted blood inquiry, the Walkerton inquiry, and the SARS inquiry. Relative to those past examples, the investigation conducted by Ms. Weatherill, judging by its terms of reference, is very inadequate.
5:10 p.m.
Conservative
Brian Storseth Conservative Westlock—St. Paul, AB
I would actually argue that Ms. Weatherill has been here, and we've had other professionals here who have said that the terms of reference and the powers that have been granted to her have been more than enough. She's not feeling under the pressure that the terms of reference haven't been good enough. Yet we have an independent standing committee hosting the subcommittee, which has all the powers of the main committee and has the ability to subpoena.
These are your three criticisms, that we don't have the power to.... I'm getting to allowing you to speak, Mr. Attaran, but I have to correct you. We have the ability to subpoena anybody if we need to. We also have the power to place them under oath if we need to.
Can you tell me where you think—and you brought up three points--this committee has fallen short in its investigation on this matter? I can wait if you need a moment, and perhaps we can look into that.
Thank you.
5:15 p.m.
Professor, Institute of Population Health, University of Ottawa
Your point is well taken. I suggest that you look at the Inquiries Act, which has previously been used as the legal basis for inquiries on, for instance, tainted blood and other crises. Frequently these inquiries that take place under the Inquiries Act are headed by a judge or a retired judge—Mr. Justice Horace Krever, for instance, who had the tainted blood inquiry and proceeded--
5:15 p.m.
Conservative
Brian Storseth Conservative Westlock—St. Paul, AB
I'm going to let you have the rest of my time, Mr. Attaran, but I want to take two seconds to interject. This is once again along Liberal talking points, and I very vociferously disagree with this. Ms. Weatherill is--
5:15 p.m.
Professor, Institute of Population Health, University of Ottawa
Let me finish my answer without any interruption.
5:15 p.m.
Conservative
Brian Storseth Conservative Westlock—St. Paul, AB
Ms. Weatherill is one of the most accomplished females in her industry in this country. She has consistently been ranked in the top 100 most powerful women in this country. She has consistently run the most proficient, number-one-ranked health authority in this country, and the continued attacks of Liberals--
5:15 p.m.
Professor, Institute of Population Health, University of Ottawa
If I may finish my answer--
5:15 p.m.
Conservative
Brian Storseth Conservative Westlock—St. Paul, AB
--and the Liberal Party of Canada are disgusting and very disturbing to the people who have lived under that health authority for several years.
5:15 p.m.
Professor, Institute of Population Health, University of Ottawa
May I finish my answer?
