Community Liaison Committee: National Microbiology Laboratory
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About the committee
The Community Liaison Committee is a forum to create and maintain an atmosphere of public trust, confidence and cooperation between the Canadian Science Centre for Human and Animal Health and the surrounding local Winnipeg community.
The Canadian Science Centre for Human and Animal Health is home to the:
- Public Health Agency of Canada's National Microbiology Laboratory
- Canadian Food Inspection Agency's National Centre for Foreign Animal Disease
The federal ministers of health and agriculture established the committee in 2000 to provide ongoing opportunity for discussion and sharing of information between the community and the Canadian Science Centre for Human and Animal Health.
The committee is composed of local community members and representatives from the Public Health Agency of Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.
The objectives of the committee are to:
- seek information and facilitate a mutual understanding on issues of public concern
- provide an ongoing forum for public input and a sustained information exchange
- provide laboratory leadership with community perspective
- improve laboratory processes and protocols
- provide relevant information to the community
- foster a greater understanding of the activities of the laboratory activities in Winnipeg
- monitor safety for the community and for the employees of the laboratories
The committee meets quarterly with management representatives from the laboratories to:
- receive updates on the latest laboratory activities
- ask questions and share concerns
Members host public meetings and publish periodic community reports, as well as share information about the committee with their networks to connect with the public.
Other high containment laboratories around the world have emulated this community relations model as a best practice, including the establishment of a community liaison committee.
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Member representation
The committee consists of 12 to 18 volunteer members who represent a wide range of expertise and perspectives, including:
- scientists
- educators
- civic leaders
- health care professionals
- agricultural professionals
- local community residents
Contact the committee
The committee's goal is to ensure the community's interests are represented effectively through open communication. Share your thoughts or concerns by emailing us at communityliaisoncommittee-comitedeliaisoncommunautaire@phac-aspc.gc.ca .