Evidence of meeting #9 for Health in the 43rd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was working.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Liberal
President, Public Health Agency of Canada
Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
I think this is a question that actually is shared between me and my colleague at Health Canada, in that we've been working very closely together with our provincial and territorial partners as well as other federal organizations to make sure that, collectively, we will be ready and are ready in the context of the response that is necessary to deal with the pandemic in Canada.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ron McKinnon
Ms. Namiesniowski, again we're having a problem with the interpretation. Please try to speak loudly and a little more slowly and we'll see how it goes.
President, Public Health Agency of Canada
Let me start again.
In the context of the work that is being done at the federal level as well as with the provinces and territories, we've been working for weeks in the context of ensuring that Canada is prepared and equipped to deal with the impact of what may transpire in Canada as a result of having COVID-19 within our borders.
In relation to the questions, I will start, Mr. Chair, and then ask my colleague, the deputy minister of Health Canada, to also speak to the work that's being done at Health Canada in terms of some of the questions that are being asked.
As everyone knows, in the context of the Canadian system, front-line health care services are provided by the provinces and territories. We work with them very closely in turn, and we are working with them very closely, to ensure that they have the kinds of supplies and equipment that will be necessary at a local level to respond to the crisis.
Regarding the question as to whether we will have the same thing happening all across the country at the same time, based on what is transpiring across the country, there are differences that can be seen from an epidemiological perspective. At this point things are different in different jurisdictions, and even within jurisdictions things are different depending on where you may be within any particular jurisdiction. Our expectation is that it will continue in the same way it has in relation to other countries that are experiencing the same crisis.
In response to the questions asked about the availability of beds, and hospitals converting and making more room available, and whether or not there are additional steps being taken to add capacity at a local level, from the conversations that are taking place with all of our provincial and territorial partners, all jurisdictions are definitely planning and taking steps to ensure there's a level of readiness. Each jurisdiction has a plan that's in place, and they're in the process of actually implementing their plans.
My colleague, the deputy minister of health, could also speak about some of the work that we're doing to ensure there is a level of transparency around what is happening at a jurisdictional level to ensure that we are able to support, where necessary, the efforts of the provinces and territories.
Mr. Chair, I will stop there and ask my colleague Mr. Lucas if he has anything he would like to add.
Deputy Minister, Department of Health
As President Namiesniowski noted, we are working with health officials in the provinces and territories to assess the full capacity available of key assets, including ICU beds, ventilators and other essential assets, to work with them to ensure we have an understanding of their utilization. We're sharing best practices on the work each of them is doing as they manage their health systems.
As for creating additional space through cancelling elective surgery and moving patients who can be moved into alternate facilities, each jurisdiction has done that to allow for additional admission of patients with COVID symptoms. Provinces and territories are taking steps in creating wards for COVID patients and in other ways to minimize the donning and doffing of personal protective equipment to ensure proper infection prevention and control methods.
Through this work they are endeavouring, and we're providing additional support and resources, to ensure that alternate hospital facilities and assets can be deployed.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ron McKinnon
Thank you, Mr. Lucas.
We will now go to Mr. Fisher for six minutes, please.
Liberal
Darren Fisher Liberal Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, NS
My question is for the Canada Border Services Agency. First of all, I want to thank the folks at the Canada Border Services Agency for what they do, ensuring that goods get into Canada, that goods get out of Canada and that Canadians are safe.
I'm curious about screening. We've all received text or Facebook messages from constituents saying, “I feel I haven't been screened properly at the border.” I guess I'd like to know from CBSA what we do for screening, what don't we do, what others do and maybe what you think Canadians think screening actually is. We've heard about the ineffective and inefficient taking of everyone's temperature. We've seen pictures of airports with potentially 6,500 to 7,000 people lining up just to get out of the airport.
Maybe you could give me a bit of a rundown. I know you talked about assessments in your opening remarks, but what exactly is “screening”? What are we doing and what don't we do?
President, Canada Border Services Agency
I'll describe the process for the air mode so that people can understand the continuum here.
First of all, the air carriers are being asked to prevent anyone who is symptomatic from getting on the flight. During the flight, if somebody is identified as becoming symptomatic, they're identified before the plane lands in Canada so that we can segregate them immediately upon arrival. Those people would immediately be turned over to Public Health Agency officials to assess their situation. That's our hand-off point with them.
For the rest of the travellers, for the asymptomatic people, they would proceed into the customs hall, where if you've travelled internationally recently you would see our PIK machines. These are our primary inspection kiosk machines. The advantage we have with these machines is that they ask the questions in 15 different languages, so we're able to carry a very broad spectrum of travellers into the country.
After answering the questions about whether they have a cough, a fever or other symptoms, they also acknowledge that they are subjecting themselves to mandatory isolation for 14 days upon arrival in the country. As they're in the baggage hall, there are additional border service officers roving and looking for people who are displaying symptoms. We have referred people through these functions to the Public Health Agency.
Upon departure from the customs hall, they're all given forms about how to conduct themselves should things happen after they leave and to acknowledge once again that they're being subjected to mandatory isolation.
It's very layered. It's very complete. It covers more than just French and English.
You're right in your point about the temperature scans. People are expecting different things, but we've not been advised by public health officials that it's something we need to do at the border. We are guided in all of these actions by the advice of the Public Health Agency of Canada on the efforts it wants us to deliver at the border on its behalf.
Liberal
Darren Fisher Liberal Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, NS
That's air. Now tell me a bit about somebody who is driving across the border or perhaps coming in by rail.
President, Canada Border Services Agency
Rail has virtually stopped in terms of travellers right now.
On land, basically you would arrive at the PIL booth. An officer would ask you the same three questions about your overall health and would observe you for other symptoms. If there were symptoms, you would be referred to secondary inspection where you would be referred to a Public Health Agency official for a further assessment.
Everyone is given a written document on the mandatory requirement for isolation and they're asked to acknowledge that. They understand they're being asked to mandatorily isolate. The only difference would be with what we would call an “essential traveller”. They are largely in the commercial vehicle world or essential workers who need to cross the border on a daily basis. If you are subject to the 14 days of isolation, you're expected to comply. As I mentioned in my remarks, if we find there are people who are travelling back and forth, we have lookouts in the system for those people.
Liberal
Darren Fisher Liberal Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, NS
When you're suggesting that those folks are agreeing to comply, is there an enforcement measure, or a checkup measure, a check-back measure for those folks? Are you taking licence plates when they're crossing the border?
President, Canada Border Services Agency
We capture all of the information as part of the normal capture of information when they cross the border. We're actually capturing extra data right now and providing that to the Public Health Agency of Canada, which would then pass that on to provinces and law enforcement.
It's important to understand that we do not have inland enforcement powers under the Quarantine Act, so it really is between the Public Health Agency and local law enforcement about enforcing this once people have gone inland. However, if we're advised of somebody who seems to be abusing the system, we would put lookouts on the system and we could potentially arrest somebody at the port of entry if we find that they're not abiding by the mandatory isolation, and then call local law enforcement to proceed with potentially laying charges.
Liberal
Luc Thériault Bloc Montcalm, QC
Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
First of all, I'd like to say that I'm glad we're having this meeting. Today, I will not try to find those responsible, or guilty parties. We have to manage a crisis and it will take everyone's efforts to get through this.
I also want to recognize the outstanding work that front-line responders do, whether they are hospital workers or people who respond to multiple requests. I would also like to acknowledge the work of all of my colleagues in the House who work on the front lines. Indeed, we have become front-line responders so that together we can get through this crisis, a deadly global pandemic.
That being said, the analyses of when and how we should have done this or that can be done in due course. Count on us to do those analyses. However, today, in the face of a pandemic of this nature, we need to work on our ability to respond to the threat. Many people are calling us from different places. In different parts of Quebec, entrepreneurs and people are ready to push forward to provide what is called personal protective equipment. I would like to know what we are doing to speed up these projects. It would be important to have specific answers on this subject.
There are people who can serve parts of the territory. In Quebec, we try to promote local purchasing. If suppliers are able to supply regions with materials, I think we should encourage that, notwithstanding today's announcements about large orders, the delivery of masks, and so on. I'm talking about other types of supplies, such as disinfectant.
I would like the answer to be addressed to the entrepreneurs who are waiting for an answer in order to be able to contribute to the fight against the current crisis and to help their compatriots. That's my first question.
Bloc
Luc Thériault Bloc Montcalm, QC
I am speaking to the people from the Public Health Agency who told us about the provision of equipment and expedited procedures.
Liberal
President, Public Health Agency of Canada
Yes. Perhaps I can start and then my colleague from Health Canada can also offer any comments he may have.
President, Public Health Agency of Canada
In relation to the overall strategy, the Government of Canada has a multi-pronged approach. That includes acquiring and contracting suppliers globally that produce the kind of equipment Canada needs.