Evidence of meeting #45 for Health in the 43rd Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was point.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Prof. Ambarish Chandra
I can see very clearly, living where I do in Toronto, that there's pressure from certain provinces with the claim that the borders are a cause of infection. I think multiple levels of government find it convenient to toss that football around, but there's no evidence for it.
Conservative
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
In your piece in The Globe and Mail, you said that Europe is already welcoming fully vaccinated Americans. Are there any other international examples that you would point us to in terms of best practices right now?
Prof. Ambarish Chandra
As of last week, France and Spain have begun welcoming fully vaccinated travellers. I believe Finland announced today that they would, as of today. Again, I can probably look up a list of jurisdictions and let you know.
Conservative
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
This is the last question.
Today, Perrin Beatty made a comment that it is now easier to fly to France for a fully vaccinated Canadian than it would be to go to Buffalo.
Would you agree with that assertion?
Prof. Ambarish Chandra
It's true. Fully vaccinated Canadians are welcome in France, but they're not necessarily welcome back today without quarantine.
Conservative
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
Do you think it will have a significant detrimental impact on many industrial sectors in Canada?
Prof. Ambarish Chandra
Absolutely. In fact, there are so many sectors.... We take for granted that people can cross the border and take advantage of tourism opportunities here. I think, when we finally see the scale of the effect, we'll be shocked.
Conservative
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
Would you recommend the reopening of the U.S.-Canada border with whatever safe provisions you might recommend at this point?
Prof. Ambarish Chandra
Frankly, for fully vaccinated travellers, that time has long past. It should have been through in April. Regular resumption of cross-border flows, I think, is overdue today.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ron McKinnon
Thank you, Ms. Rempel Garner.
We go now to Dr. Powlowski.
Dr. Powlowski, go ahead, please. You have six minutes.
Liberal
Marcus Powlowski Liberal Thunder Bay—Rainy River, ON
I'll address my questions to Dr. Silverman.
Thanks for a very cogent, well-thought-out argument as to why we should be considering making COVID vaccination mandatory for—
Chair and Chief of Infectious Diseases, Western University, As an Individual
I'm sorry. I can't hear Dr. Powlowski.
Liberal
Chair and Chief of Infectious Diseases, Western University, As an Individual
I'm sorry. I couldn't hear Dr. Chandra either, so it's possible there's something wrong on this side.
Liberal
Marcus Powlowski Liberal Thunder Bay—Rainy River, ON
Can you hear me now, Mike? Should I keep talking?
Liberal
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ron McKinnon
Due to problems with Dr. Powlowski's microphone, we will go directly to Monsieur Lemire—
Liberal
Liberal
Jennifer O'Connell Liberal Pickering—Uxbridge, ON
I don't think it's an issue with Dr. Powlowski's microphone. I think we have a witness who can't hear the testimony, so that's not fair to any members who might want to ask him a question. He's not able to hear, so I think we need to sort out why this one witness can't hear any of the interventions.
Conservative
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
Mr. Chair, on that point of order, we have a very limited amount of time on this panel. It seems to be a technical issue with the witness in terms of his microphone. If my colleague, Mr. Lemire, is not intending on asking Dr. Silverman questions, then I would suggest that we proceed while IT deals with Dr. Silverman's IT issues so that the rest of the committee is not wasting time, which is greatly unfair to everybody, given that it is a technical problem on the witness's end.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ron McKinnon
Thank you for all of your points of order.
Dr. Powlowski has already agreed to ask his questions in the next slot, so I will carry on.
We'll now go to Mr. Lemire.
Mr. Lemire, you have the floor for six minutes.
Bloc
Sébastien Lemire Bloc Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I am pleased to be with you today and, more importantly, to be able to share my questions again with Mr. Lamarre, whom I had the good fortune of inviting to the Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology a few months ago. I am curious to hear his views on the evolution of research in the context of the pandemic.
The pandemic has highlighted the fact that investments in basic research are paramount, as they have affected people's daily lives. We need to stop compartmentalizing everything. We need to consider increased funding for basic research not as a mere cost, but as a societal investment that will allow society to fully develop in the long term.
Do you agree? Can you explain your point of view?