Health Committee on May 7th, 2015

[Hedy Fry, Liberal, Vancouver Centre, BC]

On my question about the number of inspectors...?

[The Chair, Conservative, Ben Lobb]

We're over time, but I'll let you finish because I think this is an important point, and then we'll go to Ms. Morin.

[Dr. Bruce Archibald]

Inspection numbers on a day-to-day basis can fluctuate fairly largely, depending on needs and those types of things. But when you look at inspection numbers in the agency over the last seven years, they've increased by 19%. Almost every year there has been a steady increase in the number of inspectors, and there have always been sufficient inspectors to cover off all the food safety needs.

[The Chair, Conservative, Ben Lobb]

Does that conclude what you want to say? Okay.

Ms. Morin, go ahead.

[Isabelle Morin, NDP, Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Lachine, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I want to pick up on the question that I tried to ask Minister Ambrose earlier.

The animal health and zoonotics program underwent drastic cuts. In 2012-13, it's budget stood at $175 million but is down to $90 million this year. HR-wise, that represents an annual loss of 400 full-time positions, with the number of positions dropping from 1,199 in 2011-12 to 800 this year.

I'd like to know why the program's budget was cut so significantly. Isn't it an essential program?

[Dr. Bruce Archibald]

Thank you for the question.

I am going to ask Mr. Mayers, the agency's vice-president of policy and programs, to answer that question.

[Paul Mayers, Vice-President, Policy and Programs, Canadian Food Inspection Agency]

Thank you very much, Chair.

On the animal health and zoonosis program, again, as explained by the CFO, when one compares estimates to the report on plans and priorities, you end up with these differences. But the reality is that, in the animal health and zoonosis program, if one looks at it in the context of the RPP, it actually shows an increase in both direct budget and FTEs from the 2014-15 period to the 2015-16 period.

So again, the issue that—

[Isabelle Morin, NDP, Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Lachine, QC]

I was comparing the estimates to 2012's. They have decreased by nearly half since then.

Could you explain to me why there are 400 fewer jobs this year than in 2012?

[Paul Mayers]

In the agency we take a risk-based approach to the allocation of our resources. When you look from year to year, as the CFO explained, the comparison will depend on issues including, for example, renewal. One of the important renewals in the zoonosis area, for example, is our programming in relation to BSE, which was the sunsetting program that is now renewed.

This is why it's difficult to make those comparisons, because the main estimates are not the only element of the story. The supplementary estimates are also important in understanding the overall framing going forward. As noted, in terms of our front-line inspection activities, the agency's staff has continued to be consistent.

[Isabelle Morin, NDP, Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Lachine, QC]

Since you're assuring me that no jobs in that area will be lost, I'm going to move on to another topic.

The Pest Management Regulatory Agency is very concerned about bee colonies. Health Canada is responsible for pesticides. Neonicotinoid insecticide is used on seeds, and that gives rise to many concerns. A report was done—

[Marc-André Morin, NDP, Laurentides—Labelle, QC]

The insecticide is banned in Europe.

[Isabelle Morin, NDP, Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Lachine, QC]

Indeed, it's banned in Europe.

The Pest Management Regulatory Agency came out with a report on the subject two or three years ago. Where does the situation stand now? It's quite worrisome given what a vital role bees play. According to the agency's report, changes are necessary. Will any funding be allocated to address those changes? What has been done since the report came out?

[Simon Kennedy]

Thank you for the question.

I'm going to answer in English, if you don't mind, just to make sure I give you an accurate answer.

[Isabelle Morin, NDP, Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Lachine, QC]

Very well.

[Simon Kennedy]

This is an issue we're looking at very carefully. Health Canada obviously has an important mandate to protect the safety of the public. At the same time we want to make sure we're making decisions based on the best science available.

In the case of the neonic class of pesticides, they are undergoing re-evaluation and reassessment. We are doing this jointly with the United States. The Americans, through the Environmental Protection Agency, are also doing a re-evaluation of neonic pesticides.

Until that work is complete and a final decision can be made, there is a moratorium on expanded usages of this particular class of pesticides, so the uses that are currently there in the marketplace are continuing, but in terms of expanding to new areas or having new applications, new uses, that's awaiting the outcome of the review.

[Isabelle Morin, NDP, Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Lachine, QC]

The report I was referring to was released in 2012, so three years ago. How much longer will it take before we see any action on the issue?

[The Chair, Conservative, Ben Lobb]

Ms. Morin, we're way over time.

Mr. Wilks, go ahead.

[David Wilks, Conservative, Kootenay—Columbia, BC]

Thanks, Chair.

I just have a couple of questions both related to the same topic, one for Health Canada officials and then one to CIHR. They both are with regard to electronic cigarettes. As you know, this committee carried out a study of electronic cigarettes and made a number of recommendations on which the minister is moving forward, including that the Government of Canada establish a new legislative framework for regulating electronic cigarettes and related devices.

Has any of the $26.5 million in planned spending for the tobacco program been identified for developing a legislative framework toward this initiative?

[Simon Kennedy]

Mr. Chair, on the issue of electronic cigarettes, this is something the department is looking at quite carefully. We're grateful actually for the work of the committee and all of the consultations that were done and the recommendations. We've been examining those quite carefully.

At this point I would say we have not dedicated specific funds to that work because we have policy staff, and analysts and so on, who are busy doing that work, but there hasn't been a necessity of, for example, hiring additional staff or setting up a dedicated office. We have specialists who look at these kinds of issues all the time who are actually doing that work.

Depending on the ultimate decision of the government in terms of how to move forward on this, it's entirely possible we would need to make budget decisions to reallocate resources. But when it comes to the policy development work, and the assessment of the work of this committee, and to develop a government response, that doesn't require the movement of money budgetarily. We're able to handle that within our existing resources.

[David Wilks, Conservative, Kootenay—Columbia, BC]

Thank you.

[Simon Kennedy]

I want to assure the member there's a lot of work going on to come back with a response.

[David Wilks, Conservative, Kootenay—Columbia, BC]

I appreciate that. As you know, it's a high priority for the minister. We believe we did provide some very good recommendations back.

To my good friend, Monsieur Perron, welcome back at a different level. As you know, again, this committee's report with regard to electronic cigarettes was brought back to the government. Do you anticipate any of the approximately $1 billion in planned expenditures through CIHR this year will be allocated to projects related to electronic cigarettes?

[Michel Perron]

CIHR, as my colleague from the health portfolio indicated, recognizes the importance of this emerging research area. I should indicate CIHR has supported already a number of research projects on various facets of the issue, such as both the harms and possibly the benefits of e-cigarettes, evaluating tobacco control policies, and the efficacy of e-cigarette use for smoking cessation.

By way of more detailed examples, I can indicate that in 2013 CIHR invested approximately $800,000 over five years to a team led by Dr. Eisenberg of the Jewish General Hospital to support the first clinical trial to evaluate the efficacy of e-cigarette use for smoking cessation. We will be awaiting the results of that trial.

With respect to continuing research in this area, clearly CIHR will continue to support research in this field. Our open investigator competition allows for applicants in this particular space, and then more specifically with respect to the report of the committee, CIHR is currently investigating the options that could be pursued in line with this committee's recommendations on the research gaps.

[David Wilks, Conservative, Kootenay—Columbia, BC]

Thank you very much.

The rest of my time I'll give to Mr. Young.

[The Chair, Conservative, Ben Lobb]

Okay.

You have one minute, sir.