Routine Proceedings
Mr. Speaker, with regard to parts (a) to (z), the health and safety of Canadians are the utmost priority for Health Canada. Health Canada has a rigorous scientific review system in place to ensure vaccines are safe and effective in preventing the diseases they target. More information on these standards and how Health Canada regulates vaccines for human use in Canada can be found at https://www.ca…
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Mr. Speaker, in response to (a), with regard to the Public Health Agency of Canada’s, PHAC, work to prepare its Canadian child welfare information system, CCWIS, report, PHAC collaborates with provinces and territories, other federal departments, and indigenous organizations to support work on the CCWIS. The development of the 2023/2024 report involved collaboration, input, and/or consultation wit…
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Mr. Speaker, in December 2011, the Government of Canada announced that the Canada Health Transfer, or CHT, would continue to grow at six per cent annually from 2014-15 to 2016-17, and, beginning in 2017-18, the CHT would grow in line with a three-year moving average of nominal gross domestic product, or GDP growth, with funding guaranteed to increase by at least three per cent per year. The Decemb…
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
Mr. Speaker, with regard to part (a), on March 22, 2023, the Government of Canada announced measures in support of the first-ever National Strategy for Drugs for Rare Diseases, with an investment of up to $1.5 billion over three years. As part of this first phase, the Government of Canada will provide up to $1.4 billion over three years to provinces and territories through bilateral agreements. Th…
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Mr. Speaker, in response to part (a) of the question, the Public Health Agency of Canada, or PHAC, has 457 GeneXpert Systems, some of which were received on behalf of Indigenous Services Canada, or ISC; 260 of these systems have been deployed by PHAC. In terms of Part (b), the vast majority of GeneXpert Systems distributed by PHAC are currently being utilized for respiratory virus testing, in othe…
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Mr. Speaker, the health and safety of Canadians is Health Canada’s top priority, and the department exercises stringent regulatory oversight over vaccines. Before the initial approval of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, the department completed a rigorous scientific review of the product’s safety, efficacy and quality, including details on manufacturing processes and information on adverse events foll…
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Mr. Speaker, the health and safety of Canadians are Health Canada’s top priority, and before the initial authorization of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, COMIRNATY, the department completed a rigorous scientific review of the product’s safety, efficacy and quality. Following authorization, Health Canada remained active in discussions with international partners in assessing the quality, safety and ef…
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
Mr. Speaker, in response to (a) to (r), the health and safety of Canadians are Health Canada’s top priority. The department exercises stringent regulatory oversight over vaccines, and conducts a rigorous scientific review of their safety, efficacy and quality prior to authorization. In July 2023, Health Canada evaluated the presence of the SV40 promoter/enhancer sequence in the plasmid used to pre…
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
Mr. Speaker, Health Canada’s mandate is to help Canadians maintain and improve their health. The health and safety of Canadians is Health Canada’s top priority, and the department exercises stringent regulatory oversight over health products, including vaccines. Health Canada received Pfizer’s submission seeking authorization to its Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine on October 9, 2020, available at…
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
Mr. Speaker, with regard to (a) to (g), the Public Health Agency of Canada, or PHAC, does not have access to provincial or territorial databases like the Ontario Health Data Platform that provide an individual-level information such as medical diagnoses or date of deaths. Similarly, PHAC does not have access to databases managed by the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences. Canada has a robus…
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
Mr. Speaker, the Pan-Canadian Vaccine Injury Support Program, or VISP, provides financial support to people in Canada in the rare event that they experience a serious and permanent injury as a result of receiving a Health Canada authorized vaccine, administered in Canada, on or after December 8, 2020. The program also provides death benefits and support for funeral expenses in the rare case of a d…
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
Mr. Speaker, the health and safety of Canadians are Health Canada’s top priorities, and the department exercises stringent regulatory oversight over vaccines. Before any of the COVID-19 vaccines were approved in Canada, the department conducted rigorous scientific review of the extensive data regarding the vaccines’ safety, efficacy and quality, including results of pre-clinical and clinical studi…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Mr. Speaker, the health and safety of Canadians is Health Canada’s top priority, and the Department of Health exercises stringent regulatory oversight over vaccines. Before a vaccine is approved in Canada, the department conducts a rigorous scientific review of its safety, efficacy and quality. Submissions typically contain extensive data regarding the vaccine's safety, efficacy and quality, inclu…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Madam Speaker, one thing that is absolutely clear is that the Conservatives do not care. They do not care about Canadians. They want to make sure they keep giving tax breaks to the ultrawealthy in this country. At the same time, they will cut programs for Canadians that Canadians rely on. What is clear today is that the Conservatives will cut the Canadian dental care program, which is serving 200,…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Madam Speaker, I want to thank the member opposite for asking a really important question. I know he has asked similar questions before. As I said earlier in the House, our focus is to make sure that we approve medications through Health Canada, but do so in a manner that maintains the safety of medications for Canadians. We cannot afford to ever take shortcuts that could jeopardize the lives of C…
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
Mr. Speaker, in response to (a)(i), (ii), (v), (vi) and (ix), the Minister of Health and Health Canada officials did not communicate or correspond, directly or indirectly, with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario or the Health Professions Regulatory Advisory Council in 2020 or 2021 regarding mask exemptions, COVID-19 vaccines, medications to treat COVID-19, or any other public health…
Read full speech →Statements by Members
Mr. Speaker, I am excited to rise today to celebrate the 55th anniversary of the Centretown Community Health Centre, a pillar of support and compassion in my community of Ottawa Centre since 1969. Over the past five and a half years, CCHC has evolved into a multiservice, non-profit organization offering a wide array of services that cater to the diverse needs of the residents of Centretown. I know…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, indeed, this week, the CRTC released its decision on initial contributions by global streamers as part of the implementation of the Online Streaming Act. This means digital platforms will contribute nearly $200 million per year to our audio and audiovisual sectors, including content creators. Unlike the Conservatives, who defend tech giants and obstruct all attempts supporting Canadia…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, I agree with the member opposite. The arts are extremely important for all of us individually, for our communities and for our country. There is so much Canadian arts and culture to celebrate, which varies from region to region. That is why Liberals will continue to support arts groups and artists all across the country, regardless of which part of the country they live in, including …
Read full speech →Statements by Members
Mr. Speaker, it is with a heavy heart that I share the passing of coach Cliff Brimmell. Anyone who had the good fortune of knowing Cliff knows what a wonderful man and passionate coach he was. An active member of the Ottawa Rowing Club for almost 50 years, Cliff shaped the lives of countless young rowers, instilling in them not only the skills and discipline required for rowing but also the values…
Read full speech →Adjournment Proceedings
Madam Speaker, I want to thank the hon. member for his very thoughtful question. I appreciated the question when he asked it in the House, and I have had an opportunity to speak to him in the hallways about it as well. The question is regarding the urgent need for effective treatments for pulmonary arterial hypertension, or PAH, as he outlined. This serious condition significantly impacts the live…
Read full speech →Adjournment Proceedings
Madam Speaker, again, I thank the member for his thoughtful and considerate way of approaching this really important issue. As I mentioned in my response earlier, there is a priority review that is going on, which requires an expeditious review of the process and the timelines that are associated with it. It requires, of course, the sponsor or the manufacturer of the medication to provide all the …
Read full speech →Adjournment Proceedings
Madam Speaker, I thank the member opposite for the question she has posed. I appreciate the opportunity to highlight the work that our government is doing to tackle affordability in Canada. I would like to start by welcoming the Bank of Canada's decision to lower the interest rate. It was a very significant moment today. It is truly great news for Canada and for Canadians. In fact, Canada is the f…
Read full speech →Adjournment Proceedings
Madam Speaker, I did not hear any concrete solutions from the member opposite. Yet again, it was just a slogan. I can assure the House a slogan is not going to help improve the lives of Canadians. When the member opposite refers to inflationary spending, she is saying that the Government of Canada, during the pandemic, which was the worst crisis of our lifetime, should not have spent the money to …
Read full speech →Government Orders
Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the member for Don Valley East, who had the honour of serving in the provincial legislature. He will remember when we worked together to create OHIP+, which started providing universal access to pharmacare for young people, which was a game-changer. It was unfortunate that Doug Ford gutted that program. The member for Don Valley East is absolutely right. Our number one…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Mr. Speaker, I want to say to the member directly that this is not going to happen. The choice is maintained in this bill. He asked for a direct answer, and I am giving him the direct answer. In fact, at the committee, we discussed this matter at length. The minister was very clear, saying that the choice will always be maintained. As I said in my remarks, there is no reference to private health i…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Mr. Speaker, we are absolutely clear that we will work along with provinces and territories. Delivery of health care is a provincial responsibility. I think we all accept that, and we are all together in our desire to serve Canadians better across this country in provinces and territories and to make sure that they have the best health care accessible to them. That is why, given the diverse progra…
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Mr. Speaker, I am sure the member knows my view on Doug Ford's government and how we can be better served in Ontario. When I was knocking on doors in the last election, one of the messages that I heard repeatedly from my constituents was to work with all members of this House, all political parties. My constituents were absolutely clear on ensuring that we get things done. I am really glad that we…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Mr. Speaker, in the legislation, the choice is clear. There is no conversation about taking choice away whatsoever, so I encourage the member to have a look at the legislation. Second, I would ask the member to support this legislation, to make sure that Canadians have access to pharmacare, to stop spreading misinformation, to stop creating fear among Canadians and to focus on initiatives like thi…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege today to begin the debate at third reading stage of Bill C-64, an act respecting pharmacare. The legislation, as people know, is a priority for the government. It would establish the fundamental principles for implementing a national pharmacare program in Canada. Additionally, it would outline our plan to work with participating provinces and territories to deliver …
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Madam Speaker, the Conservatives are in denial. They will continue to say that somehow dental care does not exist, because they really do not care about Canadians. They do not care about the seniors. Hundreds of thousands of seniors have already had access to dental care. What Conservatives would do is cut this really important, essential program that is already looking after our seniors. We will …
Read full speech →Government Orders
Mr. Speaker, I think throughout the debate on Bill C-64, whether at second reading stage or at committee, we have seen nothing but fearmongering on the part of the Conservatives, for a simple reason: They do not support the bill. They do not want Canadians to have pharmacare. In fact, they support a private health care system. That is why they have chosen every which way to put up blockades agains…
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Madam Speaker, I want to thank the hon. member opposite for his advocacy on rare diseases and drug coverage. I have heard him speak before quite convincingly, and I thank him for the hard work he is doing. The member is absolutely right. We have allocated $1.5 billion over three years, but that delivery will come through provinces and territories. We are doing the hard work to engage in bilateral …
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Madam Speaker, the member and I share an experience. We have both served in the provincial legislatures in our respective provinces, Manitoba for him and Ontario for me. We know that one of the biggest responsibilities provinces have is the delivery of health care. That is why it is imperative that the federal government work with provinces and territories in delivering these programs. That is wha…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Madam Speaker, I am thankful for the opportunity to speak to a very important piece of legislation, Bill C-64, which deals with pharmacare and develops a framework for it. This bill, along with other investments made by our government, would help millions of Canadians who are struggling to pay for their prescription drugs. We had a very healthy process at HESA, the Standing Committee on Health. I …
Read full speech →Government Orders
Madam Speaker, the truth is that the Conservatives do not support a pharmacare program. They do not support a Canadian dental care plan. They are throwing up all kinds of obstacles and denying the existence even of a Canadian dental care plan because they do not support that kind of really important help. In fact, ideologically, they are motivated by private health care. If they have their way, th…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Mr. Speaker, just like the hon. member, I also ran on pharmacare, both when I was a provincial member in Ontario and federally. I am really excited to see that our government party is working closely with the NDP to make this a reality for millions of Canadians. During this process, especially through the committee, we heard a lot of fearmongering from the Conservatives, especially when it comes t…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Mr. Speaker, I appreciate being recognized again. It is a great honour for me to work with the hon. member for Thunder Bay—Rainy River on the HESA committee. Given his medical and legal background, I find him quite beneficial to me for my understanding of a lot of health care issues. One of the things we heard a lot about at committee is the impact of this framework legislation on private health i…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Mr. Speaker, I respect the member opposite a lot. I listened to his speech quite diligently, and I am a bit perplexed because, on one hand, he spoke about and advocated for private health care insurance. He talked about how Canadians should just get private insurance for medicine if they do not have any, but then he went on to talk about affordability and the high use of food banks. I hope the mem…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Mr. Speaker, I have a lot of admiration for the member for St. John's East. I always listen quite attentively when she is speaking because she brings a wealth of knowledge and experience as a registered nurse, and now in her role as the chair of the national seniors caucus. I know she spends a lot of time talking to seniors. I would like to know what she is hearing from seniors across our country …
Read full speech →Adjournment Proceedings
Mr. Speaker, all of us want to save lives, but what will not save lives is a bunch of slogans, and that is the only thing we keep hearing from Conservatives. We are very much open to new ideas that are going to help people suffering from mental health, substance abuse and addiction challenges. We are not the only ones around the globe who are facing the crisis. All of us are working hard to find s…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Mr. Speaker, I know that the member for Davenport has been a long-time supporter of pharmacare, and just like me, she has campaigned on this. Can she tell me the impact that this legislation would have on her community?
Read full speech →Adjournment Proceedings
Mr. Speaker, first of all, let me wish you a happy birthday. I am sure you will get some quality time with your family. We remain deeply concerned about the overdose crisis and its impact on individuals, friends, families and communities across the country. In fact, Canadians are concerned about the crisis. Every loss of life is tragic. It is not a partisan issue; it is a health care issue. There …
Read full speech →Statements by Members
Mr. Speaker, just like you, I am an avid runner. It brings me great joy today to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend. Last weekend, thousands of people participated in the 50th season of the race weekend, running through this magnificent, beautiful capital city of ours, running along both the Ottawa and Gatineau sides of the Ottawa River. This is not only a run, but …
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
Mr. Speaker, in response to (a), Health Canada, HC, verifies that companies manufacturing vaccines destined for the Canadian market comply with Canada’s high safety and quality requirements, whether the drug is manufactured domestically or abroad. Within Canada, all drug manufacturers are inspected by Health Canada. For foreign manufacturing sites, Health Canada conducts inspections or assesses in…
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
Mr. Speaker, in response to (a), "Adverse Reaction Reporting and Health Product Safety Information: Guide for Health Professionals" outlines the submission methods available to health care professionals and anyone living in Canada wishing to voluntarily report adverse reactions, ARs, including adverse events following immunization, AEFIs, with vaccines, such as COVID-19 vaccines, and medical devic…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, that is a very thoughtful question. Of course, our number-one priority is to protect Canadians and to make sure they have all the necessary medications available to them. That is why we are actually bringing in pharmacare legislation, Bill C-64. I really hope the member opposite will support that bill because it would allow Canadians to have access to, initially, diabetes medications …
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
Mr. Speaker, before a vaccine is approved in Canada, the department conducts a rigorous scientific review of its safety, efficacy and quality. Submissions typically contain extensive data regarding the vaccine's safety, efficacy and quality, including results of pre-clinical and clinical studies, details on manufacturing processes, and information on adverse events following immunization. An autho…
Read full speech →Private Members' Business
Madam Speaker, I am thankful for the opportunity to discuss Bill C-368 with respect to natural health products, and its potential impact on the ability of Canadians to have confidence in the natural health products on their shelves. Canadians expect the products that they buy in Canada to be safe for use and consumption. This includes the natural health products we use every day, such as vitamins,…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Mr. Speaker, I want to first thank the member for Nunavut, along with the member for Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound, for joining me on Sunday in support of Christie Lake Camp, which is a worthy organization in Ottawa, in my community, raising $20,000 to support kids from priority neighbourhoods. I must say the member for Nunavut is an excellent basketball player, so it was a great afternoon. I agree with t…
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