Evidence of meeting #55 for Health in the 40th Parliament, 3rd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was chair.
A recording is available from Parliament.
NDP
Megan Leslie NDP Halifax, NS
Finally, when will we have a decision from the minister or from Health Canada about the future of assisted human reproduction in Canada?
Deputy Minister, Department of Health
We welcome the clarity of the Supreme Court's decision. It had been some time that we were in a situation where we did not know what the range of possible regulations would be for assisted human reproduction. As was noted by the member's question, we are, in fact, following up. We are talking to stakeholders at this point to understand, given the clarity of the decision, what that means for the agency.
Clearly, there are some functions of the agency that remain. Certain prohibitions and other things were upheld, but there are other functions that were forecast for the agency to do which clearly have been deemed to be in provincial and territorial jurisdiction. We're analyzing that decision. We're working with and talking to stakeholders before we make a decision.
Conservative
Bruce Stanton Conservative Simcoe North, ON
Ms. Yeates, you may know that this committee has been involved recently in a study on healthy living. In the course of hearing witnesses and the discussions on this topic, a number of times there were references made to the degree to which Canada is helping to get more healthy, nutritious food particularly to our northern communities. There have been recent announcements about a new program in the north that has replaced the old food mail program.
I know that Health Canada has a new role to play in that. I wonder if you might describe what Health Canada will be doing, I assume in conjunction with Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, to help with that program. What might be Health Canada's role?
Deputy Minister, Department of Health
Mr. Chair, I'm pleased to answer the question. As was noted, in partnership with Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, we are working to improve the program that had existed and to actually improve some of the tools available in the north through the nutrition north Canada program. As was noted, this is a new component for Health Canada.
We realize it's one thing to have the food available, but all of us understand the notion of changing our eating habits and understanding what might be nutritious is part of an education program. We received money. We have $1.5 million in 2010-11 and $2.9 million in 2011-12 and ongoing. Most of this will be in contribution funding. We will work with communities and have them help with retail- and community-based education initiatives. Again, it's a sense of what the communities will identify as some of their own needs, what it is they feel would be helpful to increase knowledge of healthy eating, how people develop the skills and knowledge to select healthy foods, and perhaps prepare foods differently from what they are traditionally used to.
Again, this is working in partnership with communities, in partnership with the territories in many cases, to try to provide some of those opportunities and some of the experiences and tools to make sure we build the capacity for ongoing knowledge on nutritional eating in the north.
Conservative
Bruce Stanton Conservative Simcoe North, ON
Would they be Health Canada officials who already have a relationship with the communities and are working with them now? How would that actually take place?
Deputy Minister, Department of Health
In general, we recognize that probably communities delivering the programs would be the best. Most of this will be, as I say, through contribution funding. There will be opportunities for community groups. Sometimes it might be groups that the territories are already working with. The territories all have some programs, and it may be a matter of using some of the same vehicles they are using.
I wouldn't rule out that there could be Health Canada staff, but generally speaking, we would view ourselves as being in a supportive role in the program.
Conservative
Conservative
Bruce Stanton Conservative Simcoe North, ON
Mr. Beaudet, we know the work Canada is doing in research in general, but particularly in health research, I wonder if you could briefly sketch out where Canada is relative to some of our partners internationally on this front. Canada is a great place to do research, but it would be great to hear where we are and what advances we're making relative to our partners in the international community.
President, Canadian Institutes of Health Research
It will be difficult to answer in a minute but I'll do my best.
It's important to realize that globally, Canada is doing extremely well in health research generally. We're doing very well according to all the available indicators, particularly the bibliometric indicators, the number of publications, the number of publications per dollar invested, and most importantly, the impact of those publications in terms of how often those papers are actually read by the international community.
There are certain areas where we truly excel. It's difficult because I don't want to forget any, but in terms of these indicators, we're very strong in neuroscience research and neuroscience mental health. We're really top of the charts in pain research, one of the top countries in the world.
We are performing extremely well in terms of the quality of clinical research. Our papers, our publications, our studies in clinical research have had, and are having, a huge impact worldwide. They have changed the way certain diseases are treated worldwide. The problem is that we are losing ground. The quantity is not there and we're having more and more difficulty attracting health professionals into research. That's a very important issue. We want to maintain leadership in that area.
I'd add cancer research, regenerative medicine, and infection and immunity as areas where we're doing extremely well. By and large it is a sector of science Canada can be proud of and we're really in the top tier.
Conservative
The Acting Chair Conservative Tim Uppal
Thank you, Dr. Beaudet.
I'd like to thank all the officials for coming and answering questions from the members on the supplementary estimates, antibiotics and livestock, and a number of other areas as well. Thank you for your cooperation.
We will suspend for a few minutes and then go in camera for some committee business before the bells ring.
[Proceedings continue in camera]