Mr. Speaker, the member mentioned not knowing how many institutes there will be. I think that is worth more explanation by the member because we are all concerned about it. We are working in a vacuum, with not a whole lot of transparency.
We support in principle the bill, as I have mentioned before. However, I think that is something that has to be brought out in committee. We deserve more explanation than what we have been given in the bill and by the minister today.
The member touched on the fact that the appointments will be made by the Prime Minister. When we are talking about the governor in council appointing the president of the CIHR, we are talking about the Prime Minister appointing the president. Governor in council means a political appointment by the Prime Minister.
There has to be a better way to do that. Not only will the Prime Minister be appointing the president, he will be appointing the council as well. We are moving into the next millennium and we are still doing it the old way. Can something new not be considered in the appointment of these senior positions? Surely to goodness we can move beyond just simply appointing through patronage. I hate to say the word patronage, but is there not some way that we can move beyond the old way of appointing people?