PHARMACEUTICAL TASK FORCE

The nine-member task force is comprised of the following:

Don Avison (Chair), president of the University Presidents’ Council – Mr. Avison previously held positions with the Government of British Columbia as Deputy Minister of Health, Education and Crown Corporations. A lawyer by training, Mr. Avison has served as the Deputy Minister of Justice with the Government of Northwest Territories and was with the Federal Department of Justice as litigation counsel and as a Director General of the Federal Aboriginal Justice Initiative.

George Morfitt (Vice-Chair), former auditor general of British Columbia – Mr. Morfitt spent 20 years as a Chief Financial Officer before serving two terms as Auditor General of British Columbia. Mr. Morfitt has held senior executive positions in a number of organizations, including: President, B.C. Institute of Chartered Accountants; Chair, Universities Council of B.C. and Chair, UBC Board of Governors.

Gordon Cross, executive director, Regional Grants & Decision Support with Finance and Corporate Services Division, Ministry of Health - Mr. Cross is responsible for overseeing all funding allocations and recommendations for health authority budgets, as well as developing and leading the annual health authority budget process.

Paul Gudaitis, executive director, National Pharmaceutical Strategy Secretariat, B.C. Ministry of Health. – Mr. Gudaitis is the provincial lead for NPS and has worked for the Ministry for the past six years with extensive experience in pharmaceutical policy including Fair PharmaCare.

David M. Hall, chief compliance officer and senior vice present of Community Relations, Angiotech Pharmaceuticals Inc. – Mr. Hall is Angiotech's Chief Compliance Officer, Secretary and Treasurer of the company. He is responsible for Angiotech's overall compliance and acts as a key liaison to government and community agencies.

Susan Paish, Q.C., chief executive officer, Pharmasave Drugs (National) Ltd. – Ms. Paish is responsible for the overall strategy and direction for Pharmasave’s nearly 400 community-based retail pharmacies and health centers coast-to-coast. As Managing Partner of Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP in Vancouver, Ms. Paish spearheaded the expansion of the firm from one office in Vancouver to international status with nine offices on three continents. She was also named in 2005 to the list of ''Canada’s Most Powerful Women - Top 100''; in 2004 as one of Vancouver’s Most Influential Women in Business; and in 2003 as one of Canada’s Top 25 Women Lawyers.

Dr. Mark Schonfeld, chief executive officer, BC Medical Association – Dr. Schonfeld is currently the Chief Executive Officer of the BC Medical Association and a member of the visiting staff to Vancouver General Hospital and BC Children's Hospital. He is an Assistant Clinical professor of Medicine, UBC, a member of the Justice Institute Foundation Board and a professional member of the Canadian Medical Association, the BC Medical Association, the American College of Physician Executives, and the Canadian Society of Physician Executives.

Dr. Robert Sindelar, professor and dean, UBC Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences – Dr. Sindelar's expertise lies in medicinal chemistry, computer-aided drug discovery and design, and pharmaceutical biotechnology. In addition to his leadership role in the Faculty, Dr. Sindelar teaches in the professional pharmacy curriculum in several courses and is an active advocate for the profession of pharmacy.

Russell Williams, president of Canada’s Research-based Pharmaceutical Companies (Rx&D) – Prior to his appointment as president of Canada's Research-based Pharmaceutical Companies (Rx&D), Mr. Williams represented the riding of Nelligan in the National Assembly of Quebec. As a parliamentary assistant to two ministers of health, Russell Williams was a keen advocate of better policy and better performance in the health field. He has played a key role in numerous non-profit community and health organizations, notably in the fields of human rights, health planning, palliative care and community development.

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Media contact:	Marisa Adair Communications Director Ministry of Health 250 920-8500

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