Government Operations Committee on June 2nd, 2021

[Bill Matthews]

Thank you for the question.

It is really normal to take some time to check the quality of a ship after receiving it. During the testing that is done by DoD and the Coast Guard, problems are found and it is up to the shipyard to fix them. It's always a process...

[Julie Vignola, Bloc, Beauport—Limoilou, QC]

Yes, obviously, but what problems were identified?

[Bill Matthews]

We noticed that there was an issue with the engine. It's really important for the client to verify that everything works well before accepting the product.

[Julie Vignola, Bloc, Beauport—Limoilou, QC]

In December 2020, we learned that the government had plans to expand and restore the Esquimalt shipyard, close to Vancouver, the last shipyard that belongs to the government.

What is the status of the work at the Esquimalt site?

[Anita Anand, Liberal, Oakville, ON]

I believe there are discussions on that at the moment. I'll ask my deputy to answer more precisely.

[Bill Matthews]

In fact, CFB Esquimalt shipyard charges an all-industry rate. It is not part of Seaspan's Vancouver Shipyards, so it is not a rate...

[Julie Vignola, Bloc, Beauport—Limoilou, QC]

You're not answering my question. I asked you...

[Bill Matthews]

I did not understand your question. I'm sorry.

[Julie Vignola, Bloc, Beauport—Limoilou, QC]

I asked you how the expansion and repairs to the Esquimalt yard were progressing.

[Bill Matthews]

Oh! You meant the target state. Is that it?

[Julie Vignola, Bloc, Beauport—Limoilou, QC]

That's right.

[Bill Matthews]

I apologize.

Indeed, we have a plan to reach the target. It will take some time. The same is true for the other yard. I imagine we will have to go through a similar process for the third yard. There is no exact deadline for achieving the target condition. However, Vancouver does have a plan to do so.

[Julie Vignola, Bloc, Beauport—Limoilou, QC]

All right.

When it comes to the Esquimalt shipyard, we're still talking about nearly $3 billion in renovations. I hope there is a plan as to how it will be spent.

[Bill Matthews]

Mr. Chair, I'm not sure whether the question is for me or the minister.

[Julie Vignola, Bloc, Beauport—Limoilou, QC]

You can answer it, deputy minister.

[Bill Matthews]

Thank you.

I saw that amount in the media. Since the planning is still being verified, I can't give you that amount right now.

[Julie Vignola, Bloc, Beauport—Limoilou, QC]

Without providing a figure, can you tell us if there is a plan for the renovations?

[Bill Matthews]

Mr. Chair, we are in the process of evaluating options because we have to fix things and renew them. We are in the process of developing a plan.

[Julie Vignola, Bloc, Beauport—Limoilou, QC]

I want to come back to Seaspan's Vancouver Shipyards. From what I've heard, the Esquimalt yard is leased to different companies, including Seaspan's Vancouver Shipyards, which leases 80% of the yard time. They pay the Government of Canada for the use of the yard. How much revenue is generated from this lease?

[Anita Anand, Liberal, Oakville, ON]

Again, thank you for your question.

That's a very specific question, so I'll have my deputy minister answer it. However, I would add that it's not just for construction, but primarily for maintenance.

[The Chair, Conservative, Robert Gordon Kitchen]

Thank you, Minister.

I would ask that the deputy minister provide that answer in writing to the clerk. I would appreciate that.

We'll now go to Mr. Green for six minutes.

[Matthew Green, NDP, Hamilton Centre, ON]

Thank you.

I want to welcome the minister back. I would like to get an overview from the minister.

She's been before us multiple times, and certainly, she has been on the hot seat at this committee on multiple occasions. I'm hoping to get a couple of figures and a couple of summaries out in a more amicable way, perhaps.

Regarding total purchases, could you give us an overview in terms of vaccine delivery, total delivery to date, and the overall confirmed purchases for delivery of the COVID vaccines of all variations?

[Anita Anand, Liberal, Oakville, ON]

Thank you for the question, and thank you for welcoming me back.

I will say that we have already had delivered to Canada 28.4 million doses of vaccine. We expect to have over 100 million doses delivered before the end of September.

I will ask my deputy minister if he'd like to provide more detail.

[Matthew Green, NDP, Hamilton Centre, ON]

That's okay. That will suffice. I just wanted the numbers. That's very ambitious, and I know you've touted having the most diverse portfolio in the world.

Through you, Mr. Chair, the minister will recall on numerous occasions that we've been back and forth about the TRIPS waiver and about the government's accessing COVAX. There are reports today coming out of the CBC touting that although we are investing more dollars into COVAX, what countries are actually asking for are vaccines.

I'm wondering if the minister has given consideration to our surplus. The minister will recall there was some, I will say, politically constructed partisan hesitancy put out there with regard to AstraZeneca.

What considerations has the minister given, in terms of the fact that we are well above what our requirement would be for these vaccines? We're going to have a surplus.

[Anita Anand, Liberal, Oakville, ON]

You're correct in saying that Canada is among the top contributors to the COVAX advanced market commitment. As I've mentioned at this committee before, we've invested $220 million to support equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines. In terms of donations of vaccines, if we have a surplus of vaccines, that is an issue that I care about deeply, and I have been in discussions with my colleagues Karina Gould and Patty Hajdu, the ministers also engaged on this file. We will have more to say on this issue shortly.