Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. I thank all the members for inviting me to appear before the HESA committee.
I will reiterate that I have a number of departmental officials joining me today, including Dr. Stephen Lucas, who is the deputy minister of Health Canada; Iain Stewart, who is the president of the Public Health Agency of Canada; Dr. Theresa Tam, who is Canada's chief public health officer; Dr. Mike Strong, who is the president of CIHR; Les Linklater, who is the federal lead for COVID-19 testing, contact tracing and data management strategies; and Dr. Siddika Mithani, president of the CFIA.
As per the request of interpretation, I'll keep my remarks in one language so that translation is easier for them.
I want to start at the beginning and reflect on how the COVID-19 pandemic has shaped and continues to shape our work.
Right now, we are seeing a troubling trend of resurgence in Canada. Cases of COVID-19 in our communities are rising at a concerning rate, one that is higher than it was during the spring peak, but Canada is better prepared. Our procurement of personal protective equipment is more secure, we have a higher testing capacity across the country, and we have a better understanding of the virus, thanks in great part to investments in research and science. We also have a better understanding of how to treat COVID-19. These things are helping to keep Canadians safer across the country during the second wave.
Because this is a new virus, we've made significant investments in Canadian research. This research has improved our understanding of COVID-19 and its impacts on Canadians, and indeed the international community. We've all learned that the path through this pandemic is anything but predictable or straightforward.
As we face a long winter, we continue to ask Canadians to follow public health guidelines so that we can get this virus under control, avoid further loss of life, prevent more economic hardship and buy us the time we need until we have a safe and viable vaccine here on our shores. This will continue to be our top priority in the months to come, both for our government and for my portfolio.
Mr. Chair, you will recall that the recent Speech from the Throne responds directly to the challenges posed by the pandemic. It also confirms my department's role at the centre of the response. I have to thank the hard-working people of Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada, who have worked diligently to help the provinces and territories to increase their testing capacity and their ability to perform contact tracing and suppress outbreaks.
That work includes ensuring access to personal protective equipment, both by building our domestic capacity and by securing our supply chains. The work includes developing and deploying a vaccine strategy to ensure that we're ready when one is available.
The health response to COVID-19 is only part of the story. The pandemic has exposed a number of gaps in Canada's social systems, which we referred to in the Speech from the Throne. Again, my department continues to do important work to address these gaps and to support the provinces and territories in their role and responsibility to administer health care.
The pandemic has highlighted systemic problems in long-term care. As many Canadians and many of my colleagues here today have advocated, we are committed to working with the provinces and territories to set standards for long-term care for seniors who reside in long-term care homes. We are also working to improve access to family doctors and primary care teams, especially in rural and remote communities. We've been working with provinces and territories to improve access to virtual health care, which is a service that has proven essential to Canadians during the pandemic. For example, 530,000 Canadians have accessed the mental wellness portal to chat, text or meet over video with professionals. We'll continue to address the opioid overdose crisis, which has worsened during the pandemic. It is essential that Canadians be able to access mental health and substance use supports that they need during this time.
Finally, we will continue to take action and accelerate action towards a national universal pharmacare program. These priorities reflect a great deal of work that is already under way in the health portfolio. As we move into the fall and winter, we will tackle each of these issues with increased focus and vigour.
As the pandemic has evolved, so has our response. This is reflected in our budgetary needs. Throughout the health portfolio, we are seeking additional authorities for a variety of purposes related to COVID-19: medical research, federal investments through the safe restart agreement, drugs, medical devices, and virtual care, along with many other initiatives to help Canadians through these uncertain times.
Our government has taken swift, coordinated and unprecedented actions to protect the health and well-being of Canadians, to keep businesses afloat, to support Canadians through difficult times and to keep our economy running.
In true Canadian fashion, Canadians have stepped up. They have listened to public health advice. They have made sacrifices and they've shown resilience. However, we are not out of the woods just yet, and we cannot forget that this virus remains a threat to all of us. We need to stay vigilant. With infection rates climbing across the country, we all must do more together.
The world is working feverishly toward a long-term solution to defeat COVID-19. Until we reach that point, we must continue to persevere and to support each other, because together we will get through this.