Excuse me.
Evidence of meeting #36 for Canada-China Relations in the 44th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was csis.
A video is available from Parliament.
Evidence of meeting #36 for Canada-China Relations in the 44th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was csis.
A video is available from Parliament.
Liberal
Mark Holland Liberal Ajax, ON
Look, I don't know if you want me to answer or not. I guess that's up to you.
Conservative
Stephen Ellis Conservative Cumberland—Colchester, NS
At the Wuhan Institute of Virology, they didn't have Ebola until the scientists at the national microbiology lab sent it to them. They did not have it.
Liberal
Conservative
Stephen Ellis Conservative Cumberland—Colchester, NS
Did they have it in Wuhan before it was sent from Canada or not? It's a simple question.
Liberal
Mark Holland Liberal Ajax, ON
What I would say is this. Ebola exists today. It has existed for decades as a deadly pathogen, and it doesn't need to be weaponized. It already is.
Conservative
Stephen Ellis Conservative Cumberland—Colchester, NS
Minister, I didn't ask you for a lecture on Ebola.
Liberal
Yasir Naqvi Liberal Ottawa Centre, ON
I think this committee was going so well. Some very thoughtful back-and-forth took place among members from all parties, and all of a sudden I'm seeing a behaviour that I saw from Mr. Ellis at the HESA committee, which is highly inappropriate. I think it's undervaluing the work this committee is doing on this very important topic.
Pose a question, wait for the answer and get the answer. You may not like the answer, but at least give an opportunity to have a respectful discussion between the member and the speaker. I just—
Conservative
Liberal
Yasir Naqvi Liberal Ottawa Centre, ON
Thank you for interrupting. Mr. Ellis just made my point by interrupting another member on a point of order.
Did you come here with a certain attitude, or are you here to make sure there is respectful conversation happening, as was being done by other members from your own party and other members of the committee?
Liberal
Mark Holland Liberal Ajax, ON
Perhaps I could have just 10 seconds, Mr. Chair, to respond. Can I have a 10-second runway to answer the question?
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ken Hardie
Well, no. We've stopped the clock because I want Dr. Ellis to have his full five minutes.
Conservative
Stephen Ellis Conservative Cumberland—Colchester, NS
Thanks very much, Mr. Chair. I appreciate that.
The question—
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ken Hardie
Dr. Ellis, if I could, please.... Again, this is just for the interest of our interpreters. When we talk over each other, it makes things very difficult for them, so I would ask, out of respect for them, that we keep things orderly.
Conservative
Stephen Ellis Conservative Cumberland—Colchester, NS
Yes, maybe if the minister would answer the question. We'll move on from there. I guess that's the question we'll leave.
Are there other thousand talents program scientists working in other Canadian labs run by the Canadian government?
Liberal
Mark Holland Liberal Ajax, ON
None that we are aware of, no, and I can say that there's no weaponization—
Conservative
Liberal
Conservative
Stephen Ellis Conservative Cumberland—Colchester, NS
Chair, are we going to have this guy answer the question? Once he does, he doesn't need to keep talking. He answered the question. I'm quite satisfied with that.
Liberal
Mark Holland Liberal Ajax, ON
Well, I was attempting to answer the question. I didn't get a chance to answer before because you were interrupting me, so I don't—
Conservative
Stephen Ellis Conservative Cumberland—Colchester, NS
To move on from that, then, have you done an extensive investigation to understand if there are other thousand talents program scientists?
Liberal
Mark Holland Liberal Ajax, ON
That would not be conducted by me. I would refer you to intelligence officials for what actions they have taken.