Health Committee on March 12th, 2026

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Dan Mazier]

Good afternoon, everyone. I call to order meeting number 25 of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Health.

We have some special guests here today. Of course, we have the minister, and I'm in the chair today. Ms. Fry is sick, unfortunately. She was going to the plane and realized she wasn't that well again, so we're all wishing her well, that's for sure.

We all know why we're here today. I know the minister has lots to tell us, and we have lots of questions for her.

With that, Minister, the floor is yours for five minutes.

[Marjorie Michel, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.

Honourable Members of Parliament, as you know, our public health care system is a great source of national pride and a pillar of our Canadian identity.

I'm pleased to speak to the supplementary estimates today.

Some of the initiatives being discussed today include: $400,000 to support the National Consensus Conference on Hemovigilance; $4.2 million for the Thunderbird Partnership Foundation to distribute naloxone to indigenous communities; Health Canada transfers to support chemical management activities, as well as work related to the World Health Organization's Expert Committee on Food Additives; and $1.5 million for an awareness and prevention campaign on the rise in measles cases in Canada.

Before answering your questions on the Supplementary Estimates (C), let me say a few words about one initiative that is currently under way. When we talk about health in this country, we cannot leave anyone behind.

Boys' and men's health and mental health need our attention.

Supporting men's well-being not only improves their lives but also strengthens families, communities and workplaces to positively impact all Canadians. That's why last month we launched a national conversation on men and boys' health. The input we'll gather will shape Canada's first men and boys' health strategy, to be released later in 2026. Again, I would like to invite everyone to join in on this important conversation by visiting Canada.ca/HealthyMen. I am grateful for the conversations I've had with many of you. Thank you for your support.

I also want to provide a brief update to this committee about the toxic drug crisis. While the numbers show that overdose deaths have been going down, it is essential that we continue the fight against the toxic drug crisis; if we want to build Canada strong, we must confront the toxic drug crisis together. This starts with ensuring that communities have the resources they need to support people in ways that reflect their lived reality.

Through the emergency treatment fund, our government is providing urgent support to communities on the front line of this crisis. Since October 2025, we have announced 35 new projects for $35 million in Ontario alone, and we recently announced 29 new projects in western Canada, including many indigenous-led projects.

New projects funded under the 2025 call for proposals are set to begin in the coming weeks, and just yesterday, we announced permanent controls for five fentanyl precursor chemicals.

Every community is different, and there are no one-size-fits-all solutions. Our job is to listen to local communities, work with provinces and territories, and respond.

By investing now, we can ensure a prosperous Canada for many years to come. This is about protecting Canadians. This is about building Canada strong.

Thank you very much.

I look forward to your questions.

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Dan Mazier]

Thank you, Minister.

As I am the chair, I'm going to use the chair's prerogative and ask the first round of questions. We're in our first round. It will be for six minutes. Away I go.

Minister, a peer-reviewed study published this week in the Addiction journal found that after a supervised consumption site closed, deaths did not increase. Are you aware of the finding, yes or no?

[Marjorie Michel, Liberal, Papineau, QC]

Excuse me, Mr. Chair. Can you please repeat your question?

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Dan Mazier]

Sure.

A peer-reviewed study published this week in the Addiction journal found that after a supervised consumption site closed, deaths did not increase. Are you aware of the finding, yes or no?

[Marjorie Michel, Liberal, Papineau, QC]

I already answered this question yesterday, and I will repeat the answer for the committee.

As I said yesterday, there are a number of studies on the issue of addiction.

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Dan Mazier]

I'm talking about a first of its kind in Canada. Are you aware of this study and its finding, yes or no?

[Marjorie Michel, Liberal, Papineau, QC]

You mentioned this to me yesterday, and what I'd like to tell you today is that we know this study exists, but there are others as well that are yielding different results.

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Dan Mazier]

The question is whether you are aware of the finding, the finding that deaths actually did not increase when they closed the site. Are you aware of the finding?

[Marjorie Michel, Liberal, Papineau, QC]

In any case, whether the sites are open or closed, the direct link to deaths is not necessarily proven, neither in this study nor in others.

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Dan Mazier]

Okay, I guess you're not aware of the finding.

Minister, the same study found a statistically significant increase in people using life-saving addiction treatment after the site was closed, meaning that more people got treatment when the consumption site shut down. Are you aware of this finding, Minister, yes or no?

[Marjorie Michel, Liberal, Papineau, QC]

As I have already explained, there's no one solution to the drug crisis; there are several. In the search for solutions, I always work with the people on the ground, that is to say the provinces and territories.

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Dan Mazier]

Ms. Michel, it's a very particular question.

[Maggie Chi, Liberal, Don Valley North, ON]

I have a point of order.

[Sonia Sidhu, Liberal, Brampton South, ON]

I have a point of order, Mr. Chair.

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Dan Mazier]

Yes. Hello.

[Sonia Sidhu, Liberal, Brampton South, ON]

Let the minister speak. This is not a yes-or-no answer. Let the minister speak. We want to hear the answer too.

Thank you.

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Dan Mazier]

I take it that, again, you're not aware of the finding.

[Maggie Chi, Liberal, Don Valley North, ON]

I have a point of order.

Can we let the minister finish? Some of these questions you may frame as having yes-or-no answers, but they really need time to explain. If you can let her explain, it would be great, because the whole committee deserves to hear the answer.

Thank you.

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Dan Mazier]

Actually, you interrupted the minister while she was talking. I was trying to get an answer out of her, and you interrupted her answering.

I'm fine. We're having a great conversation here, and I'm sure the minister is quite capable of answering your questions for her department.

Minister, if closing an injection site gets more people into treatment and doesn't increase deaths, will you commit to pausing consumption site approvals while your department reviews this new evidence?

[Marjorie Michel, Liberal, Papineau, QC]

As I've told you many times before—and I will continue to do it as long as I'm in charge of this portfolio—there is no single solution. I'm considering all options. I'm working closely with my partners in the provinces and territories. As you know, I don't open supervised consumption sites. The provinces fund them. The organizations and the provinces manage them. I grant exemptions because I'm a partner—

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Dan Mazier]

I'll stop you right there, Minister. You do approve them. You know that.

[Marjorie Michel, Liberal, Papineau, QC]

You're not letting me finish.

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Dan Mazier]

It's under subsection 56(1) of the substance use—

[Marjorie Michel, Liberal, Papineau, QC]

You asked me a question. I'm trying to finish—