Evidence of meeting #35 for Government Operations and Estimates in the 43rd Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was pandemic.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Karen Hogan  Auditor General of Canada, Office of the Auditor General
Milan Duvnjak  Director, Office of the Auditor General
Michael Mills  Associate Assistant Deputy Minister, Procurement, Department of Public Works and Government Services
Cindy Evans  Vice-President, Emergency Management, Public Health Agency of Canada
Alain Dorion  Director General, Pandemic Response Sector, Department of Public Works and Government Services

5:40 p.m.

Conservative

Kelly McCauley Conservative Edmonton West, AB

What do you foresee as the final cost for this? Is it too difficult to say right now?

5:40 p.m.

Associate Assistant Deputy Minister, Procurement, Department of Public Works and Government Services

Michael Mills

It is too difficult.

5:40 p.m.

Conservative

Kelly McCauley Conservative Edmonton West, AB

Thanks.

I'm going to pop over to PHAC.

You're going to be developing a plan post-pandemic for the stockpile. What are the biggest challenges you're going to face in developing the plan? Is it the unpredictability of future pandemics? Is it the ongoing things, as things are changing now with the pandemic?

5:40 p.m.

Vice-President, Emergency Management, Public Health Agency of Canada

Cindy Evans

There are two things I'll highlight. We've had excellent information sharing with the provinces and territories on burn rates and stockpiling.

5:40 p.m.

Conservative

Kelly McCauley Conservative Edmonton West, AB

I'm sorry, but can I interrupt for two seconds?

5:40 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Robert Gordon Kitchen

Thank you, Mr. McCauley.

Thank you, Ms. Evans. If you feel you can provide us with some further information on that question, it would be appreciated.

We will now go to Mr. Drouin for five minutes.

This is our last round of questions.

5:45 p.m.

Liberal

Francis Drouin Liberal Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I just want to say that I'm glad we live in a country where we've procured mobile units. Thankfully we didn't need them, but they were deployed. In Ontario the situation did get a bit out of hand, but they did manage this, and I'm glad we live in a country where we were ready. I know there are some areas of contention, but I want to thank all of the officials who work day in and day out.

Mr. Chair, I want to be respectful of the interpreters, who have been doing a good job. I know we were told that 5:45 is the end time, so I will cede my time and end it here. Thank you.

5:45 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Robert Gordon Kitchen

Thank you, Mr. Drouin. I appreciate that.

Likewise, the whole committee wants to thank the interpreters and the translators for the work they've done in light of the tremendous challenges and for bearing with us in this little extra time.

I would like to thank Ms. Evans, Mr. Mills and Mr. Dorion for bearing with us today and responding to our questions. As I mentioned earlier, if you can respond to some of the questions that have been asked, please submit answers to the clerk so we can disperse them amongst the committee members.

That said, I want to thank everybody. Have a good night.

The meeting is adjourned.