Health Committee on May 10th, 2021

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

I would argue that they belong to the people of Canada.

You have not, then, sent the contracts to the law clerk.

[Christyne Tremblay]

We are working with the pharmaceutical companies to ensure that the appropriate documents are sent to the clerk.

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

Thank you.

The next question is, did the PCO provide direction or approval to any department or minister that ATIP operations should be shut down during the pandemic?

[Christyne Tremblay]

Every ATIP office in the government is open.

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

At the start of the pandemic, did the PCO provide direction or approval to any department or minister that ATIP operations should be shut down?

[Christyne Tremblay]

I will repeat my answer. Every ATIP office is operational.

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

Thank you.

Will a national proof of vaccination system be available to Canadians within the next four months?

[Christyne Tremblay]

If I may, I will ask my colleague Thao Pham to answer that question since she runs the operations of the Cabinet Committee on the Federal Response to the Coronavirus Disease, COVID-19.

[Thao Pham, Deputy Secretary to the Cabinet, Operations, Privy Council Office]

Good morning, Mr. Chair and MPs. I'm really pleased to be here. Thank you so much for the invitation.

Maybe I'll try to respond to Ms.—

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

I don't have time. We only have a few minutes.

Will a proof of vaccination system be available to Canadians within the next four months?

[Thao Pham]

As you know, the federal government is working very closely with provinces and territories in terms of rolling out the vaccination. Of course, the provinces and territories are the key interlocutor and are responsible for rolling out the vaccination, and therefore we will continue to work very closely with them.

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

I asked about a national proof of vaccination program. Are any plans for a national proof of vaccination system under way?

[Thao Pham]

We are working closely with all of the provinces and territories because, as you know, each province will have the specific systems, but—

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

Is it fair to say no, that there won't be a national system for proof of vaccination, then?

[Thao Pham]

Provinces and territories as you know are rolling out the vaccination program right now, and we are continuing to work with them.

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

There are no plans right now, then, for a national proof of vaccination program. It will be up to the provinces.

[Thao Pham]

We are working with the provinces and territories. As you know, the federal government has responsibility for international travel, so a number of departments are also looking at international standards with the WHO.

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

Will there, then, be a national system that is managed by the federal government?

[Thao Pham]

Maybe, Mr. Chair, if I may I'll just finish my answer here. The federal government has responsibility for international borders, so we are working with international partners such as the ICAO and WHO to look at those international standards. Of course, we are also continuing to work with the provinces and territories in terms of—

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

Thank you for the non-answer.

Mr. Stewart, was any advice given to the federal government that quarantine enforcement mechanisms should be fully set up at our borders and airports prior to directing a million Canadians to come home at the start of the pandemic?

[Rob Stewart]

If I understand your question well, you're asking whether or not we were enforcing the borders as we are today—

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

No, I was asking whether or not you gave advice to the government to set up quarantine and enforcement mechanisms at the border prior to directing a million Canadians to come home at the start of the pandemic.

[Rob Stewart]

The advice to the government was provided by the Public Health Agency of Canada, to be clear.

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

Are you aware whether the Public Health Agency of Canada directed the government to set up quarantine enforcement prior to directing Canadians to come home at the start of the pandemic?

[Rob Stewart]

To be clear, as things unfolded over the course of January and February of last year, we were working to bring Canadians home before we declared a pandemic and before quarantine measures were imposed.