It's debate.
Evidence of meeting #29 for Canada-China Relations in the 43rd Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was documents.
A video is available from Parliament.
Evidence of meeting #29 for Canada-China Relations in the 43rd Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was documents.
A video is available from Parliament.
9:25 p.m.
Liberal
Lenore Zann Liberal Cumberland—Colchester, NS
It's very rude. They are being extremely rude to our minister, and I really take offence at that.
9:25 p.m.
Conservative
9:25 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Geoff Regan
Thank you. Order.
A question of rudeness is a question of decorum, and that is a point of order.
Mr. Genuis, is this on the same point of order?
9:25 p.m.
Conservative
Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB
Yes, Mr. Chair. Thank you very much.
I'm asking very pointed, and I think, important questions of the minister about national security. I just want to say to the chair that this isn't about how I feel; this isn't about how Ms. Zann feels; this is not about how the minister feels. This is about trying to get answers—
9:25 p.m.
Conservative
Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB
This is about trying to get answers about people's lives and national security and the risks to people's health.
9:25 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Geoff Regan
Mr. Genuis, this is not a point of order. You're now debating. This is debate.
9:25 p.m.
Conservative
9:25 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Geoff Regan
Mr. Genuis, you're out of order.
That's enough, Mr. Genuis. We're going on to Ms. Yip for the last four minutes. Thank you.
9:25 p.m.
Liberal
Jean Yip Liberal Scarborough—Agincourt, ON
I want to thank all of the witnesses for staying late and for their patience.
It's not necessary to badger our witnesses. They come here wanting to share information, and we need to give them their due, their time to answer a question. There has not been proper decorum.
Minister, what would you say to anyone concerned about the integrity of the National Microbiology Lab and the work they do?
9:25 p.m.
Liberal
Patty Hajdu Liberal Thunder Bay—Superior North, ON
It is important that we continue to have as our foremost consideration in all the work the lab does the health, safety and national security of Canadians. That is why I have repeatedly turned to Dr. Poliquin and President Stewart to speak about the processes in place and the ongoing review of those processes and policies, so we can ensure that the lab can continue its stellar international research.
Finally, it is very important to understand that the National Microbiology Lab is indeed a crown jewel. It is something that all Canadians can be proud of. It has served our country well and has contributed to international breakthroughs on major disease fronts, to a better understanding of COVID-19 and to the development of tools for COVID-19. It is important that we don't play politics with the importance of having a lab like this and the importance that the lab places on ensuring that processes are robust to protect the health, safety and security of Canadians.
Dr. Poliquin, do you want the closing word on this?
9:30 p.m.
Acting Vice-President, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada
Thank you, Minister.
I would like to emphasize that the work that has been done at the laboratory over the past 16 months has been born out of a long-standing history of responding to important events, be it domestically or internationally, through the outbreak support we have gotten. The research we have done has advanced our knowledge and our ability to respond to these diseases. It's the day-to-day toil of our staff that makes the work possible, through collaboration.
Through that collaboration, there are a number of achievements I want to read into the record, including the development of a Sudan vaccine candidate, which is a subtype of Ebola. There has been the identification of losmapimod, which is able to block Lassa virus entry. There has been the characterization of Tangeretin, which is a novel blocker of cellular entry for viral hemorrhagic fevers. There has been the development of treatment for potential Rift Valley fever, and novel treatments against Ebola and other high-consequence pathogens.
All of that work is something we are very proud of, and it is born out of the work of our staff, who collaborate to advance the health, safety and security of Canadians and the rest of the globe.
9:30 p.m.
Liberal
Jean Yip Liberal Scarborough—Agincourt, ON
Variants have very much been on the minds of Canadians. Have you done any research that can assure Canadians and give them some peace of mind?
9:30 p.m.
Acting Vice-President, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada
We have dedicated, as part of the Government of Canada's broader variants of concern strategy, $53 million, including a great deal of resources—
9:30 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Geoff Regan
Thank you, Dr. Poliquin. Pardon me, but Ms. Yip's time is up and so is ours.
Thank you very much, colleagues. Thank you to the witnesses.
The meeting is adjourned.
