I'll have—
Evidence of meeting #25 for Health in the 43rd Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was vaccines.
A video is available from Parliament.
Evidence of meeting #25 for Health in the 43rd Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was vaccines.
A video is available from Parliament.
2:15 p.m.
Conservative
Larry Maguire Conservative Brandon—Souris, MB
That's why you were negotiating this in early November.
2:15 p.m.
Liberal
Darren Fisher Liberal Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, NS
I have a point of order, Mr. Chair. Please allow us to hear the answer.
2:15 p.m.
Liberal
Patty Hajdu Liberal Thunder Bay—Superior North, ON
The member is asking about our negotiations with the pharmaceutical companies. I'll turn to President Stewart to speak about those.
2:15 p.m.
President, Public Health Agency of Canada
As the minister has indicated, PSPC does the negotiations with the pharmaceutical companies, not us. Once they're procured under contract, they're delivered to us, to Dany Fortin, who is here with us today.
In December we received several hundred thousand doses of vaccines. December 14 was the commencement of the national immunization campaign at 14 points of delivery across the country. That's when it commenced. It was at that time.
2:15 p.m.
Conservative
Larry Maguire Conservative Brandon—Souris, MB
The president of Pfizer said those negotiations started in mid-November. They were moved up. The contract was originally for the first quarter of 2021, and they were moved up. That's what he said. His testimony is such.
They were delivered in the middle of December, and thank goodness. We finally got some vaccines. I'm just asking about those negotiations.
I'll go on to another question.
2:15 p.m.
Liberal
2:15 p.m.
Conservative
Larry Maguire Conservative Brandon—Souris, MB
I didn't ask a question, so I will ask another question.
2:15 p.m.
Liberal
Patty Hajdu Liberal Thunder Bay—Superior North, ON
I'd like to correct the record, Mr. Chair, as there was some incorrect information.
We were one of the first—
2:15 p.m.
Conservative
2:15 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ron McKinnon
Mr. Maguire, I will ask you to let the minister answer to the assertions you've made.
2:15 p.m.
Liberal
Patty Hajdu Liberal Thunder Bay—Superior North, ON
Thank you very much for the moment to respond, Mr. Chair.
We were, in fact, one of the first countries in the world to secure approval of Pfizer and Moderna and begin early immunization. It's really quite a story of perseverance on behalf of my colleague Minister Anand and, of course, many others, including Mr. Stewart and Major-General Dany Fortin.
2:15 p.m.
Conservative
2:15 p.m.
Liberal
Patty Hajdu Liberal Thunder Bay—Superior North, ON
I want to thank them for their incredible hard work.
2:15 p.m.
Conservative
Larry Maguire Conservative Brandon—Souris, MB
Yes, I get that, and I give them credit for that work, but the government was three months late negotiating last spring. Therefore, in their first contract, they got delivery of vaccines for Q1, and then they had to go back and renegotiate it. That was clearly evident from the testimony the president of Pfizer gave here on Monday at this committee.
There have been about 60% more opioid deaths in Canada since COVID started, particularly in the province of B.C. There are also over 330,000 elective surgeries that have been delayed in Canada because of COVID. You have $4.2 billion of lapsed money at the Public Health Agency of Canada alone in this budget, including $2.5 billion lapsed for medical research and vaccine developments and $1.7 billion lapsed in protective gear and medical equipment spending.
Are you using any of those lapsed dollars to make sure we have a plan for recovery, so we can get back to getting those elective surgeries in place before more people die?
2:15 p.m.
Liberal
Patty Hajdu Liberal Thunder Bay—Superior North, ON
Mr. Chair, I think the member does not realize that in fact the provision of direct medical care is the responsibility and the right of provinces and territories.
2:15 p.m.
Conservative
Larry Maguire Conservative Brandon—Souris, MB
But you have lapsed $4.2 billion, and they're asking for more money. I know the provinces could deliver this. They would do it.
There are places in the world where vaccines are being delivered 24-7. That's because they have vaccines. We're not doing that in Canada, because we don't have vaccines, so it's very frustrating for the provinces.
I'm sure the minister has been in touch with them, or the Prime Minister has, and understands that. In fact, the Prime Minister said that he talked to them 28 times this morning, but we still don't have those vaccines on enough of a delivery mechanism that we can do it on a 24-7 basis. We need to ramp up and we will ramp up, but we're months late.
I guess I will just ask the minister when the plan will come out to tell these people who are expecting elective surgeries and have been placed on elective surgery lists when they can expect to get them.
2:20 p.m.
Liberal
Patty Hajdu Liberal Thunder Bay—Superior North, ON
Mr. Chair, that's a great question for the Premier and the Minister of Health of Manitoba, who I'm sure are managing their caseloads and their medical—
2:20 p.m.
Conservative
Larry Maguire Conservative Brandon—Souris, MB
This isn't about Manitoba, Madam Minister. It's about Canada and Canadians who are waiting for elective surgeries. These numbers aren't just for Manitoba.
2:20 p.m.
Liberal
Patty Hajdu Liberal Thunder Bay—Superior North, ON
In fact, as the member may not realize, health care is the responsibility of provinces to deliver—
2:20 p.m.
Conservative
Larry Maguire Conservative Brandon—Souris, MB
I'm very aware of that, but you have a department for that—
2:20 p.m.
Liberal
Patty Hajdu Liberal Thunder Bay—Superior North, ON
We'll be there for provinces and territories to support them in delivering on their responsibilities.