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.
Liberal
Lenore Zann Liberal Cumberland—Colchester, NS
Thank you.
Does it astound you that some of these politicians are constantly harping on about this particular issue, when in fact the viruses have absolutely nothing to do with the coronavirus?
Acting Vice-President, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I am aware that a number of reports have surfaced in a number of different media about the potential links with SARS-CoV-2 and different theories of origin. I would like to advise all Canadians to find trustworthy sources of information when it comes to these questions, and I would like to reiterate that the coronavirus, henipavirus and Ebola viruses are not in any way related.
Liberal
Lenore Zann Liberal Cumberland—Colchester, NS
Thank you. So in fact these are basically conspiracy theories that are going around.
Could you also tell us whether it is common for the National Microbiology Lab to collaborate with laboratories outside of Canada?
How many other laboratories around the world do we work with?
Acting Vice-President, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada
The National Microbiology Laboratory collaborates closely with a number of laboratories across a number of containment levels, including high containment or level 4 containment. These are extremely fruitful collaborations.
The development of a number of vaccine candidates and therapeutic treatments, including for terrible diseases such as Lassa virus and Ebola virus, have all come from collaborative engagement, and they help to make the planet a safer place.
Liberal
Lenore Zann Liberal Cumberland—Colchester, NS
Thank you.
I think I would be remiss if I didn't mention Dr. Bethune here, who certainly collaborated with a number of people to try to make lives better for many people, including the people of China.
Also, can you tell me about material transfer agreements—what they are for and when they are actually used?
Acting Vice-President, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada
A material transfer agreement is essentially an agreement that is put in place to help articulate the exchange of a material between two institutions. They are concerned primarily with protecting intellectual property rights, though they can also include additional clauses regarding things such as the rights to redistribute or transfer viruses or the handling of these viruses.
In the context of risk group 4 pathogens, it's important to know that most of the non-IP provisions are actually covered by other parts of the legislative requirements, and as a result, MTA's, in this case, are focused exclusively on IP rights as they pertain to the risk group 4 pathogens.
Liberal
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Geoff Regan
Thank you, Ms. Zann.
Mr. Brunelle-Duceppe, you have the floor for two and a half minutes.
Bloc
Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe Bloc Lac-Saint-Jean, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I have the feeling that we have made some progress in the last five minutes.
Mr. Stewart, I think you misunderstood my question earlier, because you told me that you were not before the committee on March 26. But that is not what I asked you.
I was talking about the written answers you sent the committee on March 26. Do you remember that? Well, that is what you did.
President, Public Health Agency of Canada
If I misheard or misunderstood you, my apologies. I think you said that I appeared on March 26. I wasn't actually here on March 26, so if I misunderstood you, my apologies.
What was the question?
Bloc
Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe Bloc Lac-Saint-Jean, QC
Right.
So I will start over.
In the written answers you sent the committee on March 26, you said that a number of review processes had been initiated by the Public Health Agency of Canada, or PHAC, in 2018, concerning possible breaches of security protocols at the National Microbiology Laboratory, or NML.
I want to know how many of those processes were initiated in 2018.
President, Public Health Agency of Canada
As I mentioned, in government, everything is on cycles, and it's very normal that we instigate reviews, so it would depend on the particular item at hand.
As it relates to the questions we've been examining through the discussions of this committee, as you know from my past answers, I won't be able to respond any further in that area.
Bloc
Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe Bloc Lac-Saint-Jean, QC
You can tell us that processes were initiated, but you can't tell us how many. You are allowed to tell us that there were processes, but you can't tell us how many.
Have I understood correctly?
President, Public Health Agency of Canada
If I remember, I said that a number of reviews were undertaken relating to possible breaches of security protocols, and that's—
Bloc
Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe Bloc Lac-Saint-Jean, QC
I know that, Mr. Stewart. Excuse me, I don't want to interrupt you and look rude. That is not at all my intention, but I really don't have a lot of time.
How many processes were initiated in 2018? If you are able to tell us that processes were initiated, you are able to tell us how many. Let's not get crazy.
President, Public Health Agency of Canada
A number were undertaken, as you're pointing out.
Bloc
Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe Bloc Lac-Saint-Jean, QC
Right, you are not able.
How many processes were completed or how many are still underway?
President, Public Health Agency of Canada
This is a question of the nature that we've discussed in the past, and I'm not at liberty to answer these questions.
Bloc
Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe Bloc Lac-Saint-Jean, QC
Right, fine.
What motivated the PHAC to look into these possible breaches of the security protocol at the NML?
I have the feeling I will not be getting an answer.
President, Public Health Agency of Canada
I'm not able to provide the answer to that question.
Bloc
Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe Bloc Lac-Saint-Jean, QC
Right. The Minister could maybe answer, as long as we're not getting an answer.
Liberal
Patty Hajdu Liberal Thunder Bay—Superior North, ON
As President Stewart responded, he would be the best person to answer that question.
Bloc
Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe Bloc Lac-Saint-Jean, QC
It seems that the Minister would be the best person to not answer my question.
I am going to try one last thing.
Minister, do you think that—