Health Committee on April 13th, 2010

[Dr. Rafick-Pierre Sekaly]

I would paraphrase what Dr. Gerson said. I mentioned it from the beginning. I think Canada had done a lot, together with the Gates Foundation, to be where we should be. That suddenly everything filters out, to me, remains a big mystery. I don't want to put it on the shoulders of politics or anything like that, because I respect Canada and Canadian politics too much, but I just don't understand it. Maybe, as Bill mentioned, it's a change of priorities, but it's not justified. I think it's not justified, because it's really a missed opportunity. There are many arguments to counteract this.

[Judy Wasylycia-Leis, NDP, Winnipeg North, MB]

Thank you.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joy Smith]

Time is up, I'm sorry, Ms. Wasylycia-Leis.

Mr. Brown, would you go ahead.

[Patrick Brown, Conservative, Barrie, ON]

I think we've exhausted a lot of the questions about the manufacturing facility, but one thing I would like to hear a little bit more about from the Public Health Agency would be the impact of Canada's contributions to HIV and AIDS. I think we're all aware every year, at budget time, when we see investments through CIDA. We understand it's $640 million in the three years from 2006 to 2009. That's obviously a significant investment from Canadian taxpayers.

Could you share with us some examples of how this has had a very positive impact in fighting this epidemic?

[Dr. Rainer Engelhardt]

Thank you for the question.

Canada has taken the whole envelope of AIDS-related research and accepted it in the broadest context: supporting research at the discovery level, as Dr. Cameron mentioned; supporting palliative research for people affected by AIDS; supporting the development of antivirals, so that their condition can be ameliorated; and, in conjunction with universities within the country and outside of the country, supporting investigations that try to get at the root cause of HIV infections. A lot of that is resident in Africa. That's its origin. Some of the discussions we've been having about how to properly tailor clinical trials and so forth does require Canada to expend some of its money, hopefully in conjunction with the Gates Foundation and others outside of the country, because that's where the advances for vaccines and the trialling are going to be done.

This is, I guess, somewhat personal--subjective, at least. As a scientist, I know that Canada has a very high reputation globally in the work it has done and the moneys it is expending, both from a research and science perspective, as well as, really, in how it's dealing with AIDS on a more personal or patient level.

[Patrick Brown, Conservative, Barrie, ON]

Now, I understand we've seen some reductions in the rate of infections in sub-Saharan Africa, and also an increase in access for treatment.

Is there any information that you could share on that front?

[Dr. Rainer Engelhardt]

I must say only in the general sense right now. The modelling that has been carried out about the advancing rate of HIV infection, in Africa in particular, although we have somewhat similar figures in Canada, is that even the antivirals that are being put in place are not numerically able to cope with the advancing rates of infection, so that antivirals are a palliative stop-gap measure. The only way of bringing AIDS under control is through a fully preventative vaccine approach.

[Patrick Brown, Conservative, Barrie, ON]

Now, I also understand Canada put $150 million into the WHO's 3 by 5 initiative in 2007.

Is there any information on the success of that contribution?

[Dr. Rainer Engelhardt]

I don't know.

I would defer, maybe, if it's agreeable, Madam Chair, to Dr. Cameron.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joy Smith]

Dr. Cameron, would you like to make a quick comment?

[Dr. Bill Cameron]

Well, 3 by 5 had no impact on the epidemic. Fewer people were treated than were newly infected during the period of time it was achieved, and only half the number of people got on treatment as were hoped to get on treatment in that 3 by 5 initiative.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joy Smith]

Dr. Engelhardt, just very quickly, time is up. Go ahead.

[Dr. Rainer Engelhardt]

That type of information, really, is available through our colleagues at CIDA, and if you like, we can bring that to you or to the committee as a whole.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joy Smith]

If you could bring it to the committee as a whole, I would really appreciate that, Doctor.

[Dr. Rainer Engelhardt]

Certainly.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joy Smith]

Now, very quickly—I'm not going to suspend because we don't have time—committee, the proposed operational budget, in the amount of $17,900, for the committee's study on the cancellation of the HIV vaccine manufacturing facility, under the Canadian HIV vaccine initiative, needs to be adopted.

Are you all in agreement?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joy Smith]

Thank you so much.

I must tell you that the subcommittee meeting on neurological disorders will be meeting in this building, in room 752, immediately following this committee.

I want to say a special thank you to our guests this morning. I thought all of your answers were very helpful and very insightful. I want you to know that this is the way committees are, where the hard questions are asked, and we appreciate your endurance and your graciousness.

The committee is adjourned.