Thank you, Madam Chair.
The focus of today's meeting is an administrative review of the agency. We welcome this.
As the chair has indicated, we are joined today by two current board members, Dr. Suzanne Scorsone and Ms. Theresa Kennedy. Also with us is the agency's president and board member, Dr. Elinor Wilson.
I would like to begin by thanking Dr. Françoise Baylis, Ms. Barbara Slater, and Ms. Irene Ryll for their contributions. They brought a healthy range of perspectives to board dialogue and their input was helpful to me as chair. I would like to reassure this committee that, despite their departures, the board continues to be committed to its job, does offer a wide breadth of expertise, and will deliver on the mandate it has been given by Parliament.
There's no doubt that the board's work has been challenged by the fact that we are awaiting the opinion of the Supreme Court of Canada. Nonetheless, we have moved forward with a sense of purpose and commitment. The board has a vital role in the agency's ongoing evolution by approving its goals, operational policies, and annual budget.
The board takes seriously its responsibility for fiscal management. Given concerns expressed by a former board member about inconsistencies in particular budget information, and also concerns about an agency initiative, at the request of the president the board approved having the agency's financial statements audited for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2010, as well as the initiative in question. I'm pleased to report that the preliminary document prepared by PricewaterhouseCoopers does not raise any issues that cause concern for the board, and when the Comptroller General releases the report to PricewaterhouseCoopers, they will be releasing it publicly.
I share with Canadians the need for the agency to regulate AHR service in accordance with the principles and provisions of the act, and I assure you that the board is working closely with the agency to ensure that such expectations and goals are met.
Despite being an easy target for those who believe the legislation goes too far, or does not go far enough, and for those who are disappointed with the delay of the implementation of the regulations, the agency is demonstrating tangible results. Recently, the board commissioned an independent performance evaluation of the agency. Despite acting in an environment of uncertainty, the report reveals that the agency has made good progress on five of the seven strategic directions--specifically, personal health information management; education; best practices; research, especially with the formation of the science advisory panel; and international collaborations.
In the areas of compliance and outreach, the report found that the agency could be more effective in letting stakeholders know about its activities and successes. Nevertheless, I assure you that the agency continues to make progress in this area, as seen, for example, through the ongoing publication of materials and its new and improved website, which was launched in September.
The agency must walk a fine line between an individual's right to privacy in a most sensitive field and informing the public on matters that are currently dependent on publication of the regulations, an area that is outside the control of the agency.
Another area of importance to the board is transparency. In the spring, the board started discussions on further improving this. As a result, the board is providing more information and highlights of board meetings to date through the new website.
Privilege has its price. The price for being a board member is to disassociate from personal agendas and special interests. The privilege is this: the ability to provide advice to the minister on matters that impact the health and safety of Canadians using these technologies, to oversee an area that has important ethical issues for all Canadians, and to have direct input into regulation.
By accepting to sit on the board, members must agree to administer the law as expressed by the will of Parliament and to refrain from activities that may be perceived as undermining the act. The board and its members take seriously our jobs as Governor in Council appointees upholding the principles of confidentiality and consensus that guide our deliberations.
It is a privilege for me and my fellow board members to contribute to an important health and safety issue that is so important to many Canadians.
Thank you.