Evidence of meeting #12 for Health in the 43rd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was covid-19.
A recording is available from Parliament.
3:55 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ron McKinnon
Thank you, Dr. Attaran.
Mr. Perron, if you could please do the question again, I'll start your clock over. There's a problem with translation.
3:55 p.m.
Bloc
Yves Perron Bloc Berthier—Maskinongé, QC
Mr. Attaran, I am going to refocus the debate on how essential temporary foreign workers are to our food security. They are experienced and efficient workers we absolutely need. It is not a question of whether or not we should let them in, it is a question of letting them in properly and in a well-regulated manner.
Earlier, I raised public safety concerns about offloading the quarantine onto the backs of farmers and private businesses, which have poorly adapted infrastructure and lack the experience to do it. In addition, the government is threatening fines and even imprisonment, and it is encouraging people to turn others in. Everything falls onto the backs of the farmers.
Do you think this is the right way to do it? Wouldn't it be better for the federal government to manage the quarantine process from start to finish to ensure public safety?
3:55 p.m.
Prof. Amir Attaran
Thank you for your question. I agree with you almost entirely. We know very well that farmers, for example, dairy farmers, are not public health experts. That is obvious. If we put the onerous task of managing the quarantine onto the backs of farmers, there will almost certainly be problems that could put public health at risk, which is unacceptable in my opinion.
Under section 91 of the Constitution, it is the federal government's job to quarantine travellers. If the federal government does not have the means to manage quarantines, it should at least do it with the provinces' help. It is, however, a federal responsibility under the Constitution.
4 p.m.
Bloc
Yves Perron Bloc Berthier—Maskinongé, QC
Thank you.
If we don't think we have the money, should we not try to find it, given that we are throwing billions of dollars everywhere? In any case, we are increasing the debt when public safety is at stake. We are in the middle of the first wave. We also have to think about the impact on subsequent years. If there are outbreaks like we have seen in British Columbia, the image of those workers will be tarnished in coming years. But they are essential to our economy.
4 p.m.
Prof. Amir Attaran
You are right, sir. Your colleague from the Conservative Party said that we cannot simply give $1,500 to farmers to manage it all. That is impossible. When I say resources, I am talking about technical resources, not just money.
4 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ron McKinnon
Thank you, Mr. Perron.
We go now to Mr. Davies.
Mr. Davies, you have two and a half minutes. Go ahead.
4 p.m.
NDP
Don Davies NDP Vancouver Kingsway, BC
Thank you.
Dr. Strong, on April 2 CIHR announced that as a result of the COVID-19 epidemic, the spring 2020 project grant competition was cancelled. Given the vital importance of research, obviously, when we're undergoing a pandemic and health crisis, I'm curious to know whether you think cancelling urgently needed research funding is a wise decision.
4 p.m.
President, Canadian Institutes of Health Research
What was cancelled was the spring project competition. There are two a year, one in the fall and one in the spring. When that decision was made, several things were intersecting with each other. The first one was that we were in the beginnings of what we knew would have to be a government-wide response to this and a focusing of our research capacity on the COVID-19 component of this; hence the rapid-research component and others that we're doing, as we speak, for that. We also recognized that this was a time when all of the resources of the CIHR would be focused solely on doing that. Thus, to try to conduct a competition of reviewing 2,500 applications, using 1,000 reviewers in real time, would not be possible given all the other parts we had to do.
Looking forward, though, it's going to be critical. We have been and are working now with our partners across the government to find a package to ensure that those researchers who were affected by that and whose research is in fact on hold will be carried through on this and be ready to fully come back into the broader range of research come the fall.
4 p.m.
NDP
Don Davies NDP Vancouver Kingsway, BC
Dr. Strong, is it not true, though, that the majority of CIHR funding is dispensed through the project grant competition so that what's been cancelled is really the majority of what gets funded?
4 p.m.
President, Canadian Institutes of Health Research
The answer is correct that the majority of our funding is through the project competition, but we use an encumbrance system so that the funding that would have been available to use in this specific competition, around $240 million of it, was already encumbered in research that is ongoing and funded fully. It has to be on hiatus because universities are closed, and the labs are closed without that. All the residual dollars we had we moved forward into supporting researchers during the transition.
4 p.m.
NDP
Don Davies NDP Vancouver Kingsway, BC
Okay. Thank you.
Mr. Massé or Ms. Cosgrove, after 14 migrant workers at a Kelowna, B.C., nursery recently tested positive for COVID-19, advocates are warning of a—to use their words—“potential disaster” if more isn't done to protect the rights of temporary foreign workers through the COVID-19 pandemic. What steps is the federal government taking to ensure that all temporary foreign workers have full access to health care when they're in Canada for both their protection and the protection of the general public?
4:05 p.m.
Director General, Temporary Foreign Worker Program, Skills and Employment Branch, Department of Employment and Social Development
There are a couple of aspects to this. First, it is important to understand that all workers, when they arrive in Canada, if they don't directly have access to provincial and territorial health systems, must be provided with coverage by the employer to bridge any gap. There are often waiting periods. You'll see that in many provinces, such as Ontario and British Columbia, they've extended coverage for workers arriving at day one.
We've talked about what happens during the quarantine period and what happens after. The federal responsibility is for the quarantine period. That being said, following the quarantine period all workers do have access to provincial health care. Employers are required to maintain their responsibility to provide suitable housing when workers get sick and to ensure that they are self-isolated. They must contact the local health authorities so that they have access to the right care.
The responsibility for the employer will need to be maintained and supported throughout the stay of the worker. We continue to work with all the partners to ensure that those elements are working well together. It needs to happen throughout the stay. From what I've seen from the current situations, the health authorities are doing their role, employers are collaborating and the workers are getting the health care they need.
4:05 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ron McKinnon
Thank you, Mr. Davies.
That brings our second round to an end.
We will now start the third round.
Mr. Lehoux, you have five minutes.
4:05 p.m.
Conservative
Richard Lehoux Conservative Beauce, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
It is essential that all temporary foreign workers entering Canada honour the 14-day quarantine.
My question is for the Agriculture and Agri-Food official. Why did the department not use the per-worker subsidy announced yesterday to isolate all these workers in one place as soon as they arrive? That would have reduced the risk before redirecting the workers to the businesses. I think it would have been much simpler.
4:05 p.m.
Director General, Policy, Planning and Integration Directorate, Department of Agriculture and Agri-Food
Thank you for your question.
As I said earlier, this announcement was made to help employers do their forecasts and to ensure the workers' safety. We are currently in discussions with the provinces and groups that organize the arrival of foreign workers. This is the system in place to bring workers to Canada as soon as possible.
4:05 p.m.
Conservative
Richard Lehoux Conservative Beauce, QC
As far as enforcement of the rules is concerned, some foreign workers already arrived in Quebec this past Saturday. The entrepreneurs or businesses do not yet have all the information on the rules they will have to follow or on who will be enforcing them. Whistleblowing aside, what's important here, of course, is protecting the foreign workers who arrive, but it is also about protecting the entire population in the regions where they will go to work.
4:05 p.m.
Director General, Policy, Planning and Integration Directorate, Department of Agriculture and Agri-Food
I could also invite one of my colleagues to provide more information, but I think we have already given all the information about the rules and procedures. We have already discussed it and given the information to the various groups and employers.
4:10 p.m.
Conservative
Richard Lehoux Conservative Beauce, QC
All in all, I think it would have been much simpler to take this subsidy and directly manage the 14 days after the workers arrive here in Canada.
My other safety-related question has to do with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. Federal inspectors are currently working in various organizations, such as slaughterhouses. In Quebec, much like elsewhere in Canada, some slaughterhouses have had to deal with some inspectors who were reluctant to work. To ensure food safety, I think it's really important to have inspectors on site. What steps has Agriculture and Agri-Food taken to ensure that inspectors are present in all areas where they are required?
4:10 p.m.
Director General, Policy, Planning and Integration Directorate, Department of Agriculture and Agri-Food
Unfortunately, I will not be able to comment on that because that is the responsibility of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. However, I could consult with the people at the agency and provide you with an answer at a later date.
4:10 p.m.
Conservative
Richard Lehoux Conservative Beauce, QC
Yes, I would like the agency to give us this key information.
In the past few weeks, some inspectors have flatly refused to go to work. As we know, people have many fears. In Quebec, we know that some slaughterhouses have had problems. Certain slaughterhouses were closed because some staff had contracted COVID-19. That is raising a lot of concerns among inspectors. I want us to ensure that we have a clear and precise measure to keep inspectors in place and get the job done.
4:10 p.m.
Director General, Policy, Planning and Integration Directorate, Department of Agriculture and Agri-Food
I know that rules and standards are in place, but I'm not in a position to say more. I can consult with my colleagues and provide an answer later.
4:10 p.m.
Conservative
4:10 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ron McKinnon
Thank you, Mr. Lehoux.
We go now to Mr. Van Bynen for five minutes, please.
4:10 p.m.
Liberal
Tony Van Bynen Liberal Newmarket—Aurora, ON
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I'd like to start off with a phrase my father told me. It is that people who value themselves by their ability to diminish others will forever live in the darkness of their own shadows.
I've listened to an awful lot of conversation here, and I think there was absolutely no use for some of the derogatory comments I heard in this dialogue. I think this committee should focus on positive comments, constructive dialogue and seeking out opportunities in the future.
Having said that, I would like to turn to the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. Last month there was a $27-million grant to support research across Canada focused on the COVID outbreak.
Dr. Strong, can you explain what kind of work is being done by Canadian researchers?