Health Committee on June 15th, 2010

[Luc Malo, Bloc, Verchères—Les Patriotes, QC]

What are the government's contraband reduction targets, Madam Minister? Is it just lip service? Is the government saying “perhaps some day, under the right conditions, we can reduce contraband tobacco”? What are the targets, what is the percentage, and when will it happen?

[Leona Aglukkaq, Conservative, Nunavut, NU]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

We are working very closely with Public Safety. Public Safety is the lead ministry in regard to contraband, and the RCMP and others are tackling the criminal activity in the contraband. Again, as you stated in your comment, investment was made in May by our government to combat contraband tobacco. I think you've seen some news about the crackdown on contraband. We will continue to work in partnership with Public Safety on this issue.

Again, having said that, from Health Canada's standpoint and as health minister for this country, I'll say that we are tackling tobacco through legislation, through prevention initiatives across the country, and we are tackling it that way because of the health indicators we see across the country as a result of tobacco.

Thank you.

[Luc Malo, Bloc, Verchères—Les Patriotes, QC]

Thank you.

Madam Chair, once again, I am disappointed that the minister did not firmly commit today to reimbursing the additional costs that the provinces had to incur because the federal government failed in its duty to ensure a steady and constant supply of medical isotopes for diagnosis and treatment purposes. Of course, we have heard the government say it was going to invest in developing new sources of supply, but even there, Madam Chair....

[The Vice-Chair, Liberal, Joyce Murray]

Excuse me, Mr. Malo, but you're almost out of time. You have to wrap up your question if you want some time for answers.

[Luc Malo, Bloc, Verchères—Les Patriotes, QC]

We have not seen any long-term plan to ensure a steady supply. Could the minister tell us how her announcements and those of her counterpart at Natural Resources Canada fit into a long-term plan for a steady and effective supply of medical isotopes?

[The Vice-Chair, Liberal, Joyce Murray]

One half-minute, please, Madam Minister.

[Leona Aglukkaq, Conservative, Nunavut, NU]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

In regard to the situation with isotopes, we've been working very closely with the provinces and territories putting in mitigation measures. That said, we've also made significant investments in looking at alternatives to Tc-99 across the country. In the long term, we need to look at alternatives to Tc-99 to manage this global shortage of Tc-99. The problem is not going to go away overnight. That's why it is important for us to focus on alternatives to Tc-99 in partnership with the medical community across the country.

The mitigation measures we've been implementing have been working. We've been able to mitigate the supply disruption across the country. It's also important to note that we need to look at alternatives to Tc-99 in the delivery of health across the country.

Thank you.

[The Vice-Chair, Liberal, Joyce Murray]

Thank you, Madam Minister.

It's Ms. Leslie's turn....

Yes, Mr. Carrie.

[Colin Carrie, Conservative, Oshawa, ON]

On a point of order, Madam Chair, I want to get something clarified.

Never in my years as a parliamentarian have I ever had a chair rule that any minister or any organization could not make an opening statement. I wanted the clerk to clarify for committee members, if possible, one of the routine motions that we had agreed to and passed.

I'll read the first line of the routine motion. I think it makes it very clear: “That the witnesses from any organization shall be allowed ten (10) minutes to make their opening statement.”

Madam Chair, I think the minister has some opening statements that she'd like to make. As I said, I think this is totally unprecedented. I've never seen it before.

We did pass that motion, if you want to confirm it.

[The Vice-Chair, Liberal, Joyce Murray]

According to the clerk, the interpretation I gave earlier stands, Dr. Carrie.

In the interest of having the most possible time for all committee members to ask questions, including your colleagues, I will ask for a vote on this issue.

I'd like to put this to the committee--namely, whether this committee is calling for the minister to be able to make these speaking notes in person at this committee meeting or whether we continue with the questions.

I see two yeses....

Is this committee in favour of interrupting the question period for the purposes of a read-out statement by the minister?

Anyone in favour of that, please raise your hand.

Four say yes to that proposition and five say no.

Thank you.

We will proceed with the questions.

Ms. Leslie.

[Megan Leslie, NDP, Halifax, NS]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Welcome, Madam Minister.

My first question concerns the federal initiative on HIV/AIDS. In 2004 the government promised to sustain funding at $84.4 million annually over five years. That would have wrapped up last year; we're a year beyond that.

My understanding is that we're at the $72-million to $73-million mark. Now, in 2010, when does the minister expect this promise to be fulfilled? Are there plans to actually meet that promise of $84.4 million?

[Leona Aglukkaq, Conservative, Nunavut, NU]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

In the 2010-11 budget the Government of Canada has budgeted over $72 million to federal initiatives to address HIV/AIDS in Canada. The Public Health Agency of Canada is also reviewing elements of the federal initiatives to ensure that the HIV/AIDS activities are delivered, and is currently undertaking a study on those funding programs.

[Megan Leslie, NDP, Halifax, NS]

Is there an intention to keep the promise of $84.4 million? I know that we're at $72 million or $73 million right now.

[Leona Aglukkaq, Conservative, Nunavut, NU]

The investments related to that are substantially more than the $84 million you're making reference to, through the CHVI initiative as well.

[Megan Leslie, NDP, Halifax, NS]

Through the CHVI. Okay. Thank you.

I have some questions with respect to the therapeutic products directorate in the health products and food branch.

My first question is pretty straightforward. How much is this program's budget allocation?

[Leona Aglukkaq, Conservative, Nunavut, NU]

Madam Chair, that particular budget line item is not part of the supplementaries. My officials tell me that it's in the $40 million range, approximately, and I can get that information to the member. It's not within the supplementaries we're dealing with today.

Thank you.

[Megan Leslie, NDP, Halifax, NS]

Thank you. I would really appreciate that afterwards, and with regard to it, if you are able to table this as well. I understand that in past years the percentage provided from industry fees was over 50%, and that sort of raises a lot of questions about conflict of interest when companies are paying for the approval of their products and in regard to their expectations of the speediness of the approval process.

So when you do table the budget allocation, could you also tell us what percentage of the budget is currently from industry fees?

[Leona Aglukkaq, Conservative, Nunavut, NU]

I'll commit to that.

Thank you.

[Megan Leslie, NDP, Halifax, NS]

Thanks very much.

Are you able to tell us the total amount of the legal liability against Health Canada for regulatory negligence in food and drug safety?

[Leona Aglukkaq, Conservative, Nunavut, NU]

Again, that's not within the supplementary estimates. I don't have that information before me. If we're going to discuss other things outside of the estimates, then we'll have to come back to the member's questions at a later date, because it's not before me at this point in time.

Thank you.

[Megan Leslie, NDP, Halifax, NS]

If I promise that this is my last question on therapeutic products, would you be able to table that?

[Leona Aglukkaq, Conservative, Nunavut, NU]

I'll get the information to you--

[Megan Leslie, NDP, Halifax, NS]

Thank you.

[Leona Aglukkaq, Conservative, Nunavut, NU]

--but again, it's not part of the supplementaries that we're dealing with, Madam Chair. Just as a point of clarification, we are dealing with the supp bills here today.

Thank you.

[Megan Leslie, NDP, Halifax, NS]

Thanks very much.

To go back to HIV/AIDS, in 2006, the Government of Canada announced that it would be collaborating with the Gates Foundation to accelerate the development of HIV vaccines. In 2010, in February of this year, it was announced that none of the applications for a pilot scale manufacturing facility were successful and that current research needs didn't require that kind of a facility, so it wasn't needed at the time.

But the announcement didn't say what would happen with the money that had been earmarked for manufacturing the facility. I think it was about $88 million. We've heard from a lot of civil society groups that have called on the government to strengthen our response to HIV by taking these leftover funds that were earmarked and investing them in other HIV/AIDS strategies.

I'm wondering if the government's intention is to use those previously earmarked funds for research on HIV/AIDS and prevention techniques and initiatives.