Evidence of meeting #33 for Health in the 43rd Parliament, 2nd session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was chair.
A recording is available from Parliament.
President, Public Health Agency of Canada
It's Transport Canada funding and a Transport Canada project, and therefore perhaps it would be appropriate to have officials of Transport Canada to speak to its purposes. I myself don't know that.
Conservative
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
Thank you.
Dr. Lucas, the Prime Minister recently said that certificates of COVID vaccinations will be a reality for international travel. How we coordinate that and roll it out in alignment with partners and allies around the world is something that we are looking right now.
Dr. Lucas, is your department lead on these coordination efforts for Canada?
Deputy Minister, Department of Health
Mr. Chair, there are a number of federal departments and agencies involved in considering such work.
Because of the link with the World Health Organization and their work, I think it would be best if I turn to Iain Stewart in terms of responding on the role within the health portfolio.
Conservative
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
That's okay. Could someone just briefly say who's lead on that within the representatives here?
Conservative
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
Okay. Maybe I'll ask this: Is there a task force that has been set within the government to put this together?
President, Public Health Agency of Canada
It's easier to say that there are a number of departments involved, and the Public Health Agency is certainly involved, because of course—
Conservative
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
Are they a lead? Is there a lead person or minister on it?
President, Public Health Agency of Canada
I don't know whether it could be characterized that way. There are two components to the program. Certainly the Public Health Agency is leading the initial work being done around vaccination and borders.
Conservative
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
Okay.
Also, is there a system being built right now to provide Canadians travelling abroad with proof of COVID vaccination for participation in a project like this?
President, Public Health Agency of Canada
Yes, there are plans under way and there are projects in development to do what you're referring to.
Conservative
President, Public Health Agency of Canada
Do you mean within my responsibility, have I allocated funds to the support of a project or work of that nature?
Conservative
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
Are there funds allocated anywhere for a national system for proof of COVID vaccination for international travel?
President, Public Health Agency of Canada
For the work that my agency is doing, we've appropriated funding internally to support that work.
Conservative
President, Public Health Agency of Canada
We have, for instance, a representative at the World Health Organization working on standards: Luc Gagnon.
Conservative
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
What about a data management system? Have there been funds appropriated for the build-out of something like that?
President, Public Health Agency of Canada
There is a project called VaccineConnect, which is in the field with the provinces. It does provide a platform that would provide some of the infrastructure you're referring to.
Conservative
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
Would you be looking to use VaccineConnect as a national system for proof of COVID vaccination for Canadians travelling abroad?
President, Public Health Agency of Canada
That is a technical question about what kind of certification is going to be required. I'm not really a technical expert in that area, but VaccineConnect is certainly an IT platform that could enable some of the data sharing that we're referring to here.
Conservative
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
Is it being actively considered as a candidate for that purpose?
President, Public Health Agency of Canada
Yes, we are actively looking at how to support the development of a way to confirm vaccination at borders.
Conservative
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
When will the public be aware of what the system requirements are, or when would that be available for use by the public?
President, Public Health Agency of Canada
This is a discussion among technical experts that isn't resolved yet, so I don't think that information could be made public the way you're referring to. It's a discussion—