Evidence of meeting #39 for Health in the 43rd Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was witnesses.
A recording is available from Parliament.
1:30 p.m.
Chief Financial Officer, Switch Health
A medical professional, under the regulation of the individual provinces, can be someone who is trained to comply with oversight of a bilateral anterior swab.
1:30 p.m.
Conservative
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
Again, that's not what I asked.
Were any samples not collected under the supervision of a medical professional?
1:30 p.m.
Chief Financial Officer, Switch Health
The medical professional who is overseeing collection of samples was trained to the standard of compliance with the regulatory—
1:30 p.m.
Conservative
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
Thank you.
Were any samples collected while not under the supervision of a medical professional?
1:30 p.m.
Chief Financial Officer, Switch Health
Over telehealth, specimens were collected with the oversight of a medical professional—
1:30 p.m.
Conservative
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
Would it be safe to say that's a “yes”, that there were samples that weren't collected under the supervision of a medical professional?
1:30 p.m.
Chief Financial Officer, Switch Health
Medical professionals were always overseeing sample collection over telehealth.
1:30 p.m.
Conservative
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
You do realize that obfuscating on this with talking points is not helping your case. Were any samples collected while not under the supervision of a medical professional?
1:30 p.m.
Chief Financial Officer, Switch Health
All the telehealth professionals who observe specimen collection are overseen as well by an RN or RPN.
1:30 p.m.
Conservative
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
Does the Government of Canada conduct audits to ensure that samples are collected by medical professionals?
1:30 p.m.
Chief Financial Officer, Switch Health
Absolutely, and it is within the scope of our contract to collect specimen—
1:30 p.m.
Conservative
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
Thank you.
To Mr. Stoyanov, has anyone acting on behalf of Switch Health or associated companies ever proactively communicated with any Government of Canada official at the associate deputy minister level or higher relating to matters on the provision of services to the Government of Canada for at-home COVID-19 testing for international travellers?
1:30 p.m.
Chief Executive Officer, Switch Health
I apologize to ask you to repeat the second part of that question: “Has any employee or person acting on behalf of Switch Health communicated to...?”
1:30 p.m.
Conservative
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
I realize that you guys might be trying to talk the clock out. I will ask one more time.
Has anyone acting on behalf of Switch Health or an associated company ever proactively communicated with any Government of Canada official at the associate deputy minister level or higher relating to matters regarding the provision of services to the Government of Canada for at-home COVID-19 testing for international travellers?
1:35 p.m.
Chief Executive Officer, Switch Health
I believe our VP of public affairs Jordan Paquet would be better suited to answer that question.
1:35 p.m.
Vice-President, Public Affairs, Switch Health
Yes, thanks, honourable member.
Certainly, in relation to the contract we entered into through the RFP, a very competitive process, our dealings throughout the contract have been at the officials level, at a variety of different levels.
1:35 p.m.
Conservative
1:35 p.m.
Vice-President, Public Affairs, Switch Health
Is that for dealing operationally throughout the contract?
1:35 p.m.
Conservative
1:35 p.m.
Vice-President, Public Affairs, Switch Health
Prior to the contract being signed, it would have been officials at PSPC at a level—
1:35 p.m.
Vice-President, Public Affairs, Switch Health
I would say it was at management level. We entered through the normal process, applied, as per all of the rules, and followed the process accordingly.
1:35 p.m.
Conservative
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
Mr. Paquet, prior to the RFP for services being issued, had anyone acting on behalf of Switch Health or an associated company of Switch Health ever proactively communicated with any public office holder or deputy public office holder relating to the provision of services to the Government of Canada for at-home COVID-19 testing for international travellers?
1:35 p.m.
Vice-President, Public Affairs, Switch Health
Prior to the RFP for services being issued, we entered into the contract competitively, followed the process accordingly and were awarded the contract on its merits.
1:35 p.m.
Conservative
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
Can you confirm on the record that all persons acting on behalf of Switch Health or associated companies have satisfied all legally required obligations as set out in the federal Lobbying Act?