Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Ms. Weatherill, I'd like to welcome you to the subcommittee.
As you know, the subcommittee is a complement to the work we see you doing as an independent investigator. We're looking forward to your doing a thorough job, in spite of what the opposition seems to be saying. We know that's not going to be easy, because there's a lot of misinformation out there. We appreciate your being here today. It takes courage and commitment to come.
The Prime Minister has confidence in you. He said when he asked you to do this job:
Protecting the health of Canadian families and the safety of the Canadian food supply is of paramount importance to our government. I am confident that Sheila Weatherill has the expertise required to independently examine the factors that contributed to the listeriosis outbreak and make recommendations on how to prevent a similar occurrence in the future.
I think the reason he made that statement is based upon your qualifications. Mr. Storseth touched a bit on that in his point of order, but I would like to read into the record some of that background, and maybe you might want to complete it if I don't have it all here when we're done. I think it's important that people understand there's much more to you than Mr. Easter, in particular, has portrayed in some of his comments.
It's my understanding that you are an experienced health professional and highly regarded in your field. You have earned your B.Sc. in nursing and post-graduate diploma in public health from the University of Alberta. You have the high honour of being named one of Canada's 100 most powerful women by the Women's Executive Network in not just 2003 but I understand 2004, 2005, and 2006, and that you were admitted to its hall of fame in 2007. In July 2006, you were appointed a member of the Order of Canada. In November 2006, the Prime Minister appointed you as a member of his Prime Minister's advisory committee on the public service. You've talked a little bit about that, and I certainly think that's a tribute to you that you've made the decision to contribute to that committee as well. These are all laudable achievements showing your professionalism.
Your experience in the field of health issues—and Mr. Storseth can probably talk more to this than I can—includes your time as president and CEO of Capital Health in Edmonton, Alberta, from 1996 to 2006. Recently you've done important work in support of the heart institute in Alberta, including the development of the Mazankowski Alberta Heart Institute, which is western Canada's first heart institute.
And I understand that's not all. You also have experience serving on many boards of directors, including being an associate member of the faculty of nursing at the University of Alberta, and have served previously on boards such as the Conference Board of Canada, the Canadian Institute for Health Information, the Association of Canadian Academic Healthcare Organizations, and the Edmonton YMCA.
Mr. Easter had mentioned the Prime Minister's mandate to you. I think this is a short version of what he said, but you were charged to independently examine the factors to prevent a similar reoccurrence. They say your credibility is not something they're questioning, but it seems to me that at least two of the parties indicated they're not prepared to let you do your work before they judge whether you're capable of doing that. I think it's disappointing that they seem to want to see you fail at this.
I just want to ask this. Do you feel you have the authority to independently examine those factors and to make the conclusions you feel you need to in order to prevent a similar reoccurrence? Are you comfortable with the mandate you've been given?