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.
1:15 p.m.
Conservative
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
Thank you.
I was asking if any advice has been given to the government on the need to educate the public about the risks of waning immunity related to an extended dosing interval with the Pfizer vaccine.
1:15 p.m.
Chief Public Health Officer, Public Health Agency of Canada
Advice will be given to the general public and the decision-makers in conjunction with the National Advisory Committee on Immunization—
1:15 p.m.
Chief Public Health Officer, Public Health Agency of Canada
At this point, there is no evidence, based on our data, on waning immunity. By the way, we always advise on the second dose. That is not a question.
1:15 p.m.
Conservative
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
Thank you.
Dr. Stewart, are travellers arriving at international ports of entry being asked if they've been in India, Pakistan or Brazil within the past 14 days?
1:15 p.m.
President, Public Health Agency of Canada
That would be delivered by the Canadian Border Services Agency, but—
1:15 p.m.
Conservative
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
Have you given any advice to the CBSA to ask travellers arriving at the international ports of entry if they've been in India, Pakistan or Brazil within the last 14 days?
1:20 p.m.
President, Public Health Agency of Canada
Yes, I was going to go on to say two things.
First of all, I'm not a doctor. Second, I was going to say that I believe they are asking that question, yes.
1:20 p.m.
Conservative
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
Thank you.
Mr. Stewart, have you provided any advice to the government regarding requiring rapid tests at airports for all domestic airline travel?
1:20 p.m.
President, Public Health Agency of Canada
For domestic airline travel, we have not gone into that space.
1:20 p.m.
Conservative
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
Thank you.
Have you prepared any advice for the government regarding potentially stopping or reducing interprovincial flights?
1:20 p.m.
President, Public Health Agency of Canada
We have looked at different scenarios for reducing movement and—
1:20 p.m.
Conservative
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
Would that include providing advice regarding potentially stopping or reducing interprovincial flights?
1:20 p.m.
President, Public Health Agency of Canada
In the range of things that we've considered, we certainly have thought about that topic.
1:20 p.m.
Conservative
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
Thank you.
Have you flagged any concerns with the government about potential exposure to COVID-19 as travellers congregate in quarantine hotel lobbies or on transportation to the quarantine hotels?
1:20 p.m.
President, Public Health Agency of Canada
The relative risk merit of the quarantine hotels in relation to overall quarantine patterns is something we look at and think about a lot. We believe that the operations, in fact, are being done safely. One of the things that was required in order to be selected as a hotel was that they would show how they were going to do this safely.
1:20 p.m.
Conservative
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
Have you provided any advice about reducing the number of people considered essential travellers to limit the people who are exempted from quarantine when re-entering the country?
1:20 p.m.
President, Public Health Agency of Canada
There's a constant and ongoing discussion about the categories of travellers, essential and otherwise, and that's actually a federal-provincial discussion.
1:20 p.m.
Conservative
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
When do you expect any changes to that being made, if any?
1:20 p.m.
President, Public Health Agency of Canada
It's constantly under discussion, so it would be hard for me to say when a decision of that nature could be taken.
1:20 p.m.
Conservative
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
Have you provided any advice about how the government could put in place measures to ensure that every person entering Canada would be required to be tested upon arrival, including at land and sea borders?
1:20 p.m.
President, Public Health Agency of Canada
Perhaps you're aware that everybody is required right now to have three tests: one before they arrive, one on arrival—
1:20 p.m.
Conservative
1:20 p.m.
President, Public Health Agency of Canada
I'm sorry; I misheard the question. My apologies.
We have done pilot programs, but we do not have a requirement of that nature.
