Evidence of meeting #34 for Health in the 41st Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was know.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Chief Public Health Officer, Public Health Agency of Canada
Oh, no, absolutely, and we're very much supportive of that identification and coupling it with all the other measures as well. It's a very important finding, there's no question about that. It is not the answer to HIV/AIDS, though; ultimately that will be the vaccine for it.
Liberal
Hedy Fry Liberal Vancouver Centre, BC
No, and I'm not asking you about the answer to HIV/AIDS, Dr. Butler-Jones. I'm just asking if you think this is something you could utilize because of its importance in, say, aboriginal communities, or the groups and the cohorts that the federal government is directly responsible for in terms of health care.
I mean, given that the World Health Organization has endorsed it as “the” thing to do currently, right now, to bring down the spread of HIV/AIDS, I'm wondering if you would think of doing it within the RCMP...the aboriginal communities, Inuit communities, etc.
Chief Public Health Officer, Public Health Agency of Canada
Clearly it's one of the options. I wouldn't go so far as to say that the WHO says this is the one thing. It is an important tool, and it really requires assessment in the right context for how you're using it. It's very promising.
I'm not arguing with you; it's very promising. But it is not the only answer.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Joy Smith
You have less than a minute left, Dr. Fry, but that's probably not time for you to do anything.
We'll now go to Mr. Brown.
Conservative
Patrick Brown Conservative Barrie, ON
Just briefly, because I know we're running short on time, I have a question on the CIHR.
I have a constituent, Greg McGinnis, who runs our local Parkinson's chapter. I just wanted to know on his behalf what types of allocations we're making for Parkinson's research and what type of progress we're making.
I know that the CIHR has made a focus on neurological disorders, which is wonderful to see. That was my question to the minister, but I spoke to her more on general terms about neurological research.
In particular for Parkinson's, what type of progress are we seeing in Canada, and are we making any allocations this year?
Chief Public Health Officer, Public Health Agency of Canada
If you don't mind, I'll let the people from CIHR speak to that.
Dr. Jane Aubin Chief Scientific Officer and Vice-President of Research, Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Thanks very much for the question.
I have the numbers from 2010-11; we have committed $8,760,000 to Parkinson's specifically.
Conservative
Patrick Brown Conservative Barrie, ON
Perfect.
Do you have any information on the type of research we're funding for Parkinson's?
Chief Scientific Officer and Vice-President of Research, Canadian Institutes of Health Research
I don't have that with me, but I can get it and provide it to you.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Joy Smith
Thank you so very much.
Now we'll go directly to the voting on the main estimates.
I want to thank our witnesses for being here.
Did you have something, Ms. Davies?
NDP
Libby Davies NDP Vancouver East, BC
Just before you go to the vote, I know that the supplementary estimates are in effect done, so we're not really dealing with that. Just as a matter of information—
NDP
Libby Davies NDP Vancouver East, BC
—we are dealing with the main estimates, and they actually don't have to be reported back until the end of May, so what I would like to suggest, and I will move, is that we defer voting on the main estimates. We know that the budget is coming up and, based on what we see in the budget as it impacts health care, I think it's possible that we may want to call back the minister relative to the budget as it affects the main estimates.
I would like to move that we defer that, because we will still have an opportunity to vote on it later.
Conservative
Conservative
Colin Carrie Conservative Oshawa, ON
Well, it is unusual. I think we would like to actually vote on the estimates today.
Conservative
NDP
Libby Davies NDP Vancouver East, BC
The motion would be as follows: that we defer the vote on the estimates until after the budget to allow the committee the opportunity to invite the minister back should there be issues arising out of the budget as it relates to the estimates.
I hope that's clear.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Joy Smith
Thank you, Ms. Davies. Yes, it is clear.
Is that clear to everybody?
Let's go to that vote.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Joy Smith
Okay.
Please go ahead.
(Motion negatived: nays 6; yeas 5)
The motion is defeated. We'll now go to the voting on the main estimates.