Health Committee on June 14th, 2021

[Iain Stewart]

Thank you very much for the question.

We've had a number of areas where performance has not been what we were hoping for with respect to call waiting times, with respect to test kit delivery times and with respect to test kit turnaround times. In each of those areas, we've worked with Switch Health, which has been a constructive and engaged partner, and have found solutions. In addition, we've also been working to expand the service providers in this space, where capacity issues are driving the problem.

I would say, Mr. Chair and honourable member, that if you provide the details, I will make sure that's resolved as well. You have my email, of course, or you can get it through the chair. I don't want to see any such situation of that nature, of course, and we'd be very happy to follow up with your constituent to address that right away.

[Sébastien Lemire, Bloc, Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Stewart, for your honest answer.

Let me continue.

Does Switch Health provide reports and data to the department on its activities and timelines for providing test results, as well as telephone wait times?

Can we get data on this?

[Iain Stewart]

We do get performance data indicators, and we do track as well. I will look at what is not company confidential and what is generated by us that can be shared. I am happy to do that, honourable member.

[Sébastien Lemire, Bloc, Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC]

Thank you very much. We would appreciate it.

To your knowledge or that of the deputy ministers, roughly how many people haven't received their test results by the 14th day?

[Iain Stewart]

Mr. Chair and honourable member, I don't have that statistic off the top of my head, but we'll make sure that's part of the material we provide in response to this question.

[Sébastien Lemire, Bloc, Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC]

Thank you.

Has the Department of Health issued a directive for people who are due to return to work but, like the man and woman we're talking about who have completed their quarantine, have not received their test results from Switch Health?

Is there a specific guideline for this type of case?

[Iain Stewart]

Mr. Chair and honourable member, we actually did create, with Switch Health, a pathway of this nature. What is supposed to happen is that Switch Health is supposed to inform them that, where they're facing a pressure of this nature, they go and just get tested at a local service provider. From what you're saying here, I don't hear that this has happened, which is why I want to follow up on it.

[Sébastien Lemire, Bloc, Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC]

On August 31, 2020, the government announced a $126 million investment to renovate the National Research Council, or NRC, facilities in Montreal. In February, NRC announced that construction of its new biologics facility on Royalmount Avenue in Montreal was expected to be completed by July. A few months of work would then be required to complete the facility, with the first engineering tests scheduled for December 2021. After that, production of Novavax's vaccine in Canada could begin.

Can you give us an update on this?

[Dr. Stephen Lucas]

I think that question would be best directed to the president of the National Research Council and the deputy minister of innovation, science and economic development.

[Sébastien Lemire, Bloc, Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC]

Do you have any information to give us in this regard?

Can we expect to meet the timelines and begin vaccine production?

[Dr. Stephen Lucas]

As I said, to ensure that the committee is properly informed, I think those individuals would be best placed to provide that response.

[Sébastien Lemire, Bloc, Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC]

Okay.

At the G7 over the weekend, when asked about the lifting of patents on COVID‑19 vaccines, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that he was looking at all the ways to ensure everyone is vaccinated, but did not say whether his government had changed its approach on the issue.

Can you tell us today what the government's view is on lifting the patents on COVID‑19 vaccines?

[Dr. Stephen Lucas]

Canada is engaged in the process at the World Trade Organization based on motions brought forward by a number of countries and engagement over recent months, in addition to working in a number of fora, including the G7, to support broader global access to vaccines throughout the world.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ron McKinnon]

Thank you.

[Sébastien Lemire, Bloc, Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC]

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ron McKinnon]

Thank you, Mr. Lemire.

We'll move on to Mr. Davies for six minutes.

[Don Davies, NDP, Vancouver Kingsway, BC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I think this question is properly directed to Mr. Matthews. If not, maybe you can direct me.

The delivery of the vaccine contracts late last Friday was done pursuant to the order of the House dated October 26, 2020. Is that correct?

[Bill Matthews]

I believe so. I believe the correspondence went directly to the clerk of this committee, if I recall correctly, on Friday.

[Don Davies, NDP, Vancouver Kingsway, BC]

You've anticipated where I'm going, but I want to make it clear. The vaccine contracts weren't delivered gratuitously, I presume. They were delivered pursuant to that order.

[Bill Matthews]

In response to it, yes.

[Don Davies, NDP, Vancouver Kingsway, BC]

Thank you.

Now, reading from that order, it says:

(aa) all documents issued pursuant to this order (i) be organized by department and be provided to the Office of the Law Clerk and Parliamentary Counsel....

Can you tell us why the government did not send those documents to the law clerk and parliamentary counsel, but instead violated that and sent them to the health committee clerk?

[Bill Matthews]

I will have to get back and check where else it went. I know it went to this committee. It may have gone to other places as well.

We wanted to have the documentation ready in time for the committee meetings this week, so I will get back to you and see if it was sent to other locations as well. It was about getting the documents out before this meeting, frankly.

[Don Davies, NDP, Vancouver Kingsway, BC]

I can assure you that it was not sent to the law clerk or the parliamentary counsel, Mr. Matthews.

That leads me to my next question, which is carrying on with that order of the House of October 26. It says:

...provided to the Office of the Law Clerk and Parliamentary Counsel within 15 days of the adoption of this order, (ii) be vetted for matters of personal privacy information, and national security, and, with respect to paragraph (y) only, be additionally vetted for information the disclosure of which could reasonably be expected to interfere with contractual or other negotiations [to the jeopardy of Canada]—

[Sonia Sidhu, Liberal, Brampton South, ON]

I have a point of order, Mr. Chair.

Did someone else say it was sent to the committee not to the law clerk?

[Don Davies, NDP, Vancouver Kingsway, BC]

That's not a point of order, Mr. Chair.