HEALTH MINISTER WILL NOT STOP CIHR GOV’T FUNDING OF HUMAN EMBRYO RESEARCH

OTTAWA, May 16, 2003 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Health Minister Anne McLellan was asked point blank yesterday to stop the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) from providing funding to researchers doing human embryonic stem cell research.  As LifeSite reported yesterday, despite the fact that parliament is still debating a law on the controversial research, thee CIHR is going ahead with public funding in what has been described as “an end-run around parliament.”  Alliance MP Carol Skelton asked McLellan in the House, “Will the minister demand that the institute cease and desist until Parliament has spoken?”  McLellan sidestepped the question using her opportunity to speak to urge MPs to support Bill C-13, the government’s controversial omnibus legislation covering such matters.  She also said “The CIHR is a body that operates at arm’s length from the government.”  Skelton refused to drop the issue however, and responded to McLellan’s evasion of the question with: “this is not the first time the CIHR has attempted to ignore Parliament. In March 2002 the institute wanted to fund embryonic research, even though legislation was pending. Opposition protests forced the institute to back down. Is the minister going to allow the institute to continue on its own agenda?”  McLellan said CIHR “has no agenda of its own” and claimed CIHR has indicated that in case of any inconsistencies between its guidelines and the legislation, the legislation will take precedence.  See the exchange from Hansard at:  https://www.parl.gc.ca/37/2/parlbus/chambus/house/debates/103_2003-05-15/HAN103-E.htm#SOB-555696   See related LifeSite coverage:  CANADIAN GOV’T RESEARCH FUNDING BODY FUNDS EMBRYONIC STEM CELL RESEARCH https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2003/may/03051502.html