Government Operations Committee on March 24th, 2021

[Matthew Green, NDP, Hamilton Centre, ON]

Is that how you guys are doing procurement?

[The Chair, Conservative, Robert Gordon Kitchen]

Thank you, Mr. Green.

We'll now go to Ms. Harder for five minutes.

[Rachael Thomas, Conservative, Lethbridge, AB]

Minister, earlier today, in question period, the Prime Minister said, “We are concerned with the new reports...out of the EU.”

If the vaccines are guaranteed as you're saying they are, then why is the Prime Minister concerned?

[Anita Anand, Liberal, Oakville, ON]

I have two clarifications. First, the concern I have and our government has is because what we're seeing across this world is vaccine nationalism taking hold. We are competing for vaccines in a very competitive global environment. In that environment, we are still managing—

[Rachael Thomas, Conservative, Lethbridge, AB]

Why are you concerned about the EU?

[Anita Anand, Liberal, Oakville, ON]

I am concerned about the EU and any other jurisdiction that is exercising vaccine nationalism, because I seek to ensure that our contracts remain—

[Rachael Thomas, Conservative, Lethbridge, AB]

Will this have an impact on Canada?

[Irek Kusmierczyk, Liberal, Windsor—Tecumseh, ON]

Mr. Chair, on a point of order, surely we can let the minister answer the question, please.

[Rachael Thomas, Conservative, Lethbridge, AB]

I'd love for her to answer the question.

[An hon. member]

It's not a point of order.

[The Chair, Conservative, Robert Gordon Kitchen]

Please, I would ask that the minister answer the question, and in the time frame, as quickly as possible, such that the member can have time to ask whatever questions she may have in her time frame. Thank you.

[Francis Drouin, Liberal, Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON]

Mr. Chair, on a point of order, I agree that the minister must answer the question, but in order for the minister to answer the question, she needs time to answer the question, which the member keeps interrupting. It's very hard for translation services and it's very hard for us to understand.

Thank you.

[The Chair, Conservative, Robert Gordon Kitchen]

I'd ask that everybody just relax and please calm down. Take the time to ask the questions and respond appropriately. Thank you.

[Rachael Thomas, Conservative, Lethbridge, AB]

Minister, to clarify, you're saying, then, that there will be absolutely no interruptions with regard to the acquisition of vaccines; not a single dose will be missing.

[Anita Anand, Liberal, Oakville, ON]

Mr. Chair, to clarify, what I'm saying is that we're operating in a globally competitive environment and we are very aggressive to make sure our vaccine deliveries get into Canada. That's exactly what we're doing. That's why you're going to see 9.5 million doses prior to the end March, 36.5 million prior to the end of June. This is a tough environment, but we're a government that's aggressive about our vaccine procurements and that's why you're seeing them come into the country by the millions, two million this week alone.

[Rachael Thomas, Conservative, Lethbridge, AB]

Mr. Chair, I would ask that she answer my question.

No? Okay. I'll continue.

You said there are 118 million doses coming in by the end of the summer, but we have a population of 37 million. Why do we need those additional doses?

[Anita Anand, Liberal, Oakville, ON]

To begin, the majority of the vaccines that we've procured are two-shot doses, so that is necessary to ensure that we have two shots per Canadian.

[Rachael Thomas, Conservative, Lethbridge, AB]

We still have an extra 40 million doses.

[Anita Anand, Liberal, Oakville, ON]

That's correct, but we want to make sure that we have enough for all Canadians who wish to have one, and if we have extra doses, we will share them with the developing world. Our commitment is to ensure that we are sharing doses that are not needed by Canadians, and that is part of the commitment the Prime Minister has made as well.

[Rachael Thomas, Conservative, Lethbridge, AB]

Thank you.

Earlier you said that we have “a world-class portfolio”. If the portfolio is world class, then why are we currently 60th in the world for vaccine acquisition?

[Anita Anand, Liberal, Oakville, ON]

Vaccine acquisition...?

[Rachael Thomas, Conservative, Lethbridge, AB]

For vaccine acquisition and rollout, we're currently 60th out of the entire world.

[Anita Anand, Liberal, Oakville, ON]

Let's be clear, it is interesting to me that you are using that particular stat. Could I ask who the author of that chart or stat you are referring to is? I don't have it in front of me.

[Rachael Thomas, Conservative, Lethbridge, AB]

Where would you think we rank, Minister?

[Anita Anand, Liberal, Oakville, ON]

I wonder what stat you're using, because much of this is determined by the size of the country, the size of the population, the type of jurisdiction, whether there are provincial governments. There are a number of—