Mr. Speaker, I too, have been reviewing the differences between a board of inquiry under the Public Inquiries Act, and a board of inquiry under the Medical Profession Act. Mr. Speaker, I think we are really talking about the same kind of process. The Member was concerned about, as I understood it yesterday, the public having access to the process and being able to participate and hear what is going on. In fact, on reviewing the provisions in both the Public Inquiries Act and the Medical Profession Act about taking evidence, they are virtually the same. There is a possibility of in camera evidence being taken where privileged matters are being discussed, such as a patient's treatment. Both inquiries can take evidence in a public manner, Mr. Speaker. From the Member's concern, yesterday, about her constituents being able to know what is going on, I believe that the Medical Profession Act Board of Inquiry would provide the same kind of public process, at the discretion of the president, as you would find in a person heading a public inquiry under the Public Inquiries Act. Mr. Speaker, from the point of view of the public being able to see what is going on, we are really talking about the same kind of process, albeit under the Medical Profession Act and not the Public Inquiries Act. I believe that the Member's concern about public input and public involvement in the process may well be dealt with as easily under the Medical Profession Act as under the Public Inquiries Act. Therefore, I think we are dealing with the same kind of process under a different name. The powers are different and the results are different, but the process, I believe, is substantially the same under both forms of inquiry. Thank you.
Dennis Patterson on Question O727-12(2): Public Inquiry Regarding Fort Smith Health Centre
In the Legislative Assembly on September 10th, 1992. See this statement in context.
Return To Question O727-12(2): Public Inquiry Regarding Fort Smith Health Centre
Question O727-12(2): Public Inquiry Regarding Fort Smith Health Centre
Item 6: Oral Questions
September 9th, 1992
Page 865
Dennis Patterson Iqaluit
See context to find out what was said next.