COVID-19 Pandemic Committee on May 14th, 2020

[Tamara Jansen, Conservative, Cloverdale—Langley City, BC]

I'm wondering if the Minister is talking at all with them about how we could make the changes to PMPRB a bit more reasonable. Currently it takes two to five years for a new life-saving drug to become available to Canadians via that approval process, and even then, like in the case of Trikafta, they're not even putting in an application. It may never stand a chance to reach approval stages because of these proposed changes to the PMPRB. Companies like Vertex have so little confidence in the regulatory framework these changes will create that they're choosing not to even apply to market their drugs in Canada.

Will the government stop the implementation of the proposed changes to the PMPRB so that new life-saving drugs like Trikafta will not be denied or delayed by unnecessary red tape?

[Patty Hajdu, Liberal, Thunder Bay—Superior North, ON]

As the member knows, the PMPRB is not the reason this drug is not being marketed in Canada. There may be a multiplicity of reasons.

The PMPRB is a very important body. It helps regulate prices of pharmaceuticals in Canada. We know that many countries that have much lower medicine prices gain access to new medicines in the same time frame or even faster than Canada does. It's part of our commitment to improving the PMPRB review to ensure that pricing in Canada of life-saving drugs, as she says, is affordable to Canadians all across the country.

[Tamara Jansen, Conservative, Cloverdale—Langley City, BC]

Mr. Chair, what would happen if a new drug to treat COVID-19 were developed, but the manufacturers were unable to market the drug in Canada because of all this red tape at the PMPRB? Would the government create special exemptions in that case?

[Patty Hajdu, Liberal, Thunder Bay—Superior North, ON]

Mr. Chair, as we work through the COVID-19 crisis, of course our government is going to be working very quickly to gain access to any therapeutics that help with the treatment of COVID-19, and to imply otherwise is disingenuous.

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

Ms. Jansen, you have 57 seconds left.

[Tamara Jansen, Conservative, Cloverdale—Langley City, BC]

We've been hearing about the millions of masks arriving in Canada that are unuseable. Bill Matthews, the deputy minister, mentioned that the PPE we are ordering from China is being inspected by embassy staff in China before it leaves, and then again in Canada. I'm wondering how it is possible that millions of unuseable masks are still arriving.

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

The honourable minister.

[Anita Anand, Liberal, Minister of Public Services and Procurement]

I will say that the inspection of masks is not a process of simply doing a look-over. There are machines that are required to inspect N95 masks. The important thing is that once they were in Canada they were inspected by the Public Health Agency of Canada, and they were not distributed to health care workers because they did not meet those specifications. However, 1.8 million masks have been deployed to other areas and are still useable.

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

The next question will go to Ms. Wilson-Raybould.

[Jody Wilson-Raybould, Independent, Vancouver Granville, BC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

While recognizing the federal jurisdiction for the border, many of my constituents, like most British Columbians, are extremely concerned about the possible spread of COVID-19 from the United States. In lifting the restrictions, other parts of the country seem to be doing that more quickly. This is also the concern.

With health and safety being of paramount importance, can the government please confirm that it has no intention of opening up the border to the United States for non-essential travel anytime soon, and that it will respect the wishes of the British Columbia government, which has been very emphatic on this point?

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

The honourable minister.

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, University—Rosedale, ON]

Let me start by saying that, when it comes to the Canada-U.S. border, decisions about our border will be taken by Canadians in the interests of Canadians. We are taking a cautious and prudent approach. Canadians have made huge sacrifices in fighting the coronavirus. We respect those sacrifices. We will not squander the gains we have made.

We are very aware of the particular concerns of British Columbia. In fact, just yesterday, I spoke with the premier of B.C.—

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

We will now go back to Ms. Wilson-Raybould.

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, University—Rosedale, ON]

—about this issue.

[Jody Wilson-Raybould, Independent, Vancouver Granville, BC]

Thank you.

Last week at this committee I reflected that, thankfully, there were no major outbreaks of COVID-19 in indigenous communities in Canada. However, this no longer appears to be the case with La Loche and the Clearwater River Dene. There are growing concerns among indigenous communities that there will be more outbreaks, particularly as restrictions are lifted. [Technical difficulty—Editor] to support indigenous steps to protect their communities from COVID-19 and affirm their inherent right to do so.

One of the consequences of the pandemic is to highlight the conditions in indigenous communities, such as overcrowding, lack of infrastructure, food insecurity and lack of appropriate governance, that make indigenous populations more vulnerable. Can the government please explain why we still do not have a recognition of rights framework to support true reconciliation, self-determination and nation rebuilding that would have helped indigenous peoples to be less vulnerable during this pandemic, and when is it coming?

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

The honourable minister.

[Dan Vandal, Liberal, Minister of Northern Affairs]

Thank you very much.

That's a very good question. Before I answer it, on behalf of the entire House of Commons, I want to wish a happy Indigenous Nurses Day to all the indigenous nurses who are doing tremendous work all across our country.

I'm very proud of the work we've done on indigenous issues. We've spent over $23 billion of new money since being elected on housing, health care and education. I believe that we've removed close to 80 to 85 boil water advisories. This pandemic has, of course, slowed down the entire work plan, but the plan was to have all boil water advisories removed by March 2021.

As well, the Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations is working diligently on an agreement with the Wet'suwet'en nation.

I believe that a recognition of rights is so very important for our country—

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

We'll now go back to Ms. Wilson-Raybould.

[Jody Wilson-Raybould, Independent, Vancouver Granville, BC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

[Technical difficulty—Editor] the answer [Technical difficulty—Editor] the concerns and situations in indigenous communities will continue.

Mr. Chair, over the last few weeks, our office has heard from many organizations and businesses that do not meet the criteria for the Canada emergency wage subsidy and/or the Canada emergency business account because they do not have a business account with a financial institution or, in some cases, their payrolls are handled by umbrella organizations. These businesses and organizations need to be included. Does the government plan on expanding the eligibility for these programs?

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

The honourable minister.

[Mary Ng, Liberal, Markham—Thornhill, ON]

I want to assure the honourable member that we are continuing to work very hard to make sure that small businesses are able to access the range of programs that we have to help them through this difficult period. Whether it is through the regional development agencies or the almost 600,000 businesses that are getting support, the work continues. We'll need to keep working together to make sure our businesses are supported.

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

The next question goes to Mr. Diotte.

Mr. Diotte.

[Kerry Diotte, Conservative, Edmonton Griesbach, AB]

Mr. Chair, for weeks Canada Post was refusing to deliver sorted mail to a seniors living facility in my riding of Edmonton Griesbach. It was citing worries over COVID-19.

I'm wondering how many other seniors facilities Canada Post is no longer serving amid this pandemic. We know that seniors, of all people, very much rely on their mail service.

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

The honourable minister.

[Anita Anand, Liberal, Oakville, ON]

I will say, Mr. Chair, that Canada Post is closely monitoring the pandemic as it is taking action to protect employees and customers, including by offering priority service to those at higher risk, such as seniors, during the first hour of each day.

With regard to the particular instances mentioned by the member opposite, I will gladly look into those matters further, but I can tell you that top of mind for Canada Post is the delivery of mail. It is taking this matter very seriously, Mr. Chair.