Health Committee on April 22nd, 2020

[Sonia Sidhu, Liberal, Brampton South, ON]

Thank you, Chair.

Thank you to all the front-liners for what you are doing.

My first question is for the police association. With everyone staying home, we are hearing many reports of increased cases of domestic violence. In York region, domestic violence has increased by 22%. The Vancouver crisis line received a 300% increase in domestic violence calls over a three-week period. We are also hearing about stunt driving.

Can you tell us what kinds of difficulties you are facing, given the strain on resources, and speak to what kind of support is being provided to those who are fleeing from domestic violence?

[Tom Stamatakis]

Yes, through this pandemic we have seen some changes to crime patterns. We are certainly seeing decreases in some areas—your typical traffic offences, residential B and Es—but increases in terms of violent crime and domestic violence. Commercial B and Es are a significant problem in most cities across the country. They pose challenges.

Domestic violence in particular is a significant challenge, because of course you're responding to incidents in people's homes, with all the implications around that. Often we're needing to interact with victims of violence. There are often children involved. It's a difficult situation, particularly in the midst of a pandemic. It's not easy to provide comfort or to get statements or to be responsive to the needs of children when you're wearing personal protective equipment or having to social distance in those circumstances. It is a challenge. It does create a significant strain, particularly because for many of the resources that are available to assist people in those difficult circumstances, they themselves are also challenged with resources and an inability to maintain their typical locations for victims of domestic violence.

It's a very, very real challenge. We do try to connect victims of domestic violence with appropriate victim resources or put them in touch with the various facilities that are available in communities across the country, but it is a significant challenge and an area that requires continued attention, particularly as we continue in this situation in this country.

[Sonia Sidhu, Liberal, Brampton South, ON]

My next question is for the Union of Canadian Correctional Officers. I am from Brampton South, and it was announced recently that the Brampton jail closed due to an outbreak of COVID-19. We are also concerned by the outbreak at Mission Institution, where confirmed numbers among inmates are above 60. Many officers have also been impacted. We also heard in your testimony that testing is important, and that staff have to stay for 14 days in isolation.

I'm curious about the mental health of correctional officers and the prison community as a whole. What supports are there for the mental health of correctional officers or the community as a whole?

[Jeff Wilkins]

With regard to the supports we have in place in the institutions, of course we have the employee assistance program. If there are critical incidents, the critical incident stress management team is engaged; most of the time, these things can be deemed that.

I think I set it off right off from the very beginning with my membership that mental health was something that we'd need to focus on now, and most particularly in the wake of this crisis. We continue to be locked down in our communities and not able to freely associate with one another. In places like Mission, officers are working extended hours in the workplace because of the lack of resources, the lack of other staff. We are seeing some outpouring from the community, who are bringing sandwiches and recognizing the work that's happening there, and we are supporting one another in the workplace.

As for the things that are in place from the Government of Canada, at Correctional Services it's EAP and CISM.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ron McKinnon]

Thank you, Ms. Sidhu.

Mr. Jeneroux, we now go to you for five minutes, please.

[Matt Jeneroux, Conservative, Edmonton Riverbend, AB]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

My questions are for the Public Health Agency. You would agree with me that the national emergency strategic stockpile was set up to backstop the country's health care system in emergencies, such as infectious disease outbreaks, natural disasters and other public health events, such as pandemics?

[Sally Thornton]

It was intended as surge capacity; provinces and municipalities are the first line, and yes, some surge capacity there.

[Matt Jeneroux, Conservative, Edmonton Riverbend, AB]

I'm sorry, that's directly from your website:

Canada's National Emergency Strategic Stockpile...contains supplies that provinces and territories can request in emergencies, such as infectious disease outbreaks, natural disasters and other public health events....

[Sally Thornton]

Yes—

[Matt Jeneroux, Conservative, Edmonton Riverbend, AB]

So you would agree with me, that's what...? Perfect. That contradicts what Dr. Tam said, where she said that the national emergency strategic stockpile system was not really set to backstop the entire country's health care system.

Turning to my second question, you said earlier that you didn't know the details of the provinces' supply. On what date did you get the heads-up on gaps in procurement?

[Sally Thornton]

First, if I could go back, I'm not sure what the difference is between surge capacity and backstop, but it is—

[Matt Jeneroux, Conservative, Edmonton Riverbend, AB]

I have very little time in addressing this question, if you don't mind.

[Sally Thornton]

It's been an ongoing discussion with the provinces and the territories over the last four to six weeks. We've begun to become more aware of what they have, or more importantly, what they don't have and what they need.

[Matt Jeneroux, Conservative, Edmonton Riverbend, AB]

You said earlier that you didn't know the details, but then you have provided the details, so what is the date when you provided the details on gaps in procurement?

[Sally Thornton]

It's been an ongoing process and an ongoing exchange with the provinces and territories. They have different structures internally. They've been providing those, with Health Canada as the lead.

[Matt Jeneroux, Conservative, Edmonton Riverbend, AB]

Which had to have been before or after February 1.

[Sally Thornton]

It was after February 1.

[Matt Jeneroux, Conservative, Edmonton Riverbend, AB]

So there was no inquiry with the provinces on gaps in procurement prior to February 1.

In documents obtained by the committee, a brief note dated February 10, 2020, mentions that the public health agencies are conducting a PPE survey on provinces' and territories' supplies for areas of vulnerability to ensure sufficient supply. What date did that survey begin?

[Sally Thornton]

I would have to confirm the date. That was through the logistics advisory committee, which reports to the FPT special advisory committee. Yes, they did start that; I think it was around February 4. I'm not exactly sure.

[Matt Jeneroux, Conservative, Edmonton Riverbend, AB]

Did you say before or after February 4? Could you confirm?

[Sally Thornton]

I would have to confirm that date.

[Matt Jeneroux, Conservative, Edmonton Riverbend, AB]

Could you provide the committee with the results of that survey?

[Sally Thornton]

I will see what the availability is, yes, absolutely.

[Matt Jeneroux, Conservative, Edmonton Riverbend, AB]

In the same document dated February 10, 2020, it was disclosed that the NESS is able to secure modest supplies of surgical masks and N95 masks, with deliveries staggered due to mounting market pressure. Ten days prior, the Public Health Agency said that shipping supplies to China would not affect Canada's supplies. Would you agree with earlier statements made by the Public Health Agency that shipping these supplies to China did not affect Canada's supply?

[Sally Thornton]

Yes, I would.