Evidence of meeting #3 for Health in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was question.
A video is available from Parliament.
Liberal
Jean-Yves Duclos Liberal Québec, QC
Thank you for your question. I'll quickly say two things about this.
First, it's still important to remember that suppliers must fulfill their obligations. That's why the Public Health Agency is contacting the service providers in question to ensure that everything is being done to meet needs.
Liberal
Jean-Yves Duclos Liberal Québec, QC
Second, it's a difficult situation for everyone. There are delays in several circumstances.
Liberal
Jean-Yves Duclos Liberal Québec, QC
Now isn't the time to travel. We know that some people don't have the choice to travel, but we—
Luc Thériault Bloc Montcalm, QC
Okay. Sorry, but I don't have much time.
Do you agree with the chief science advisor that PCR testing at the border and at airports should be dropped and rapid tests used instead?
Liberal
Jean-Yves Duclos Liberal Québec, QC
On the issue of compliance, I'll quickly ask Deputy Minister Thompson to address that. My first point is that the agency's role is to work with all suppliers to ensure that they're fulfilling their commitments. If you want, we can turn to Deputy Minister Thompson.
Bloc
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sean Casey
There isn't enough time to ask another question if the deputy minister wants to comment.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sean Casey
Yes, and I gave you an extra 30 seconds, but you used them up too.
Dr. Lucas, if you wish to add to add a couple of sentences to the minister's answer, go right ahead.
Deputy Minister, Department of Health
I think he was referring it to Paul Thompson, the deputy minister.
Deputy Minister, Public Services and Procurement Canada, Department of Public Works and Government Services
Mr. Chair, we're working closely with suppliers to ensure that they're fulfilling their obligations.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sean Casey
Thank you, Mr. Thériault and Mr. Thompson.
Next we have Mr. Davies, please, for two and a half minutes.
NDP
Don Davies NDP Vancouver Kingsway, BC
Minister Duclos, at a recent news conference you stated that you believed that at some point vaccines would become mandatory across the country in order to get out of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Last May, Prime Minister Trudeau publicly stated, “We're not a country that makes vaccination mandatory”.
Can you confirm the Government of Canada's official position on mandatory vaccinations?
Liberal
Jean-Yves Duclos Liberal Québec, QC
That's a great question.
I would inform everyone that vaccine mandates do indeed work. At the federal level, we've put vaccine mandates, vaccine obligations, into place for federal public servants, and 99% of federal public servants have made the right choice; they have got the vaccine. It's the same thing for the RCMP, for the armed forces and for those travelling across the air and land borders by air or by train. It works.
The estimates are that millions of Canadians over the last few months have received the vaccine, and therefore they not only protected their loved ones and co-workers but also themselves. That is not only a view; it is solid evidence that vaccine obligations are working.
NDP
Don Davies NDP Vancouver Kingsway, BC
Thanks for clarifying that.
Minister, the COVID-19 pandemic is exacerbating pre-existing health care staffing shortages, as I'm sure you're very aware, and that's across Canada. It affects every province and territory and it's pushing frontline health care workers to the verge of collapse.
Minister, will your government convene and lead a pan-Canadian health workforce strategy, working with professional associations and unions as well as provinces and territories to support Canada's health care workers and ensure the sustainability of our health care system for the long term?
Liberal
Jean-Yves Duclos Liberal Québec, QC
That's a great question, MP Davies, and thank you for asking it.
Yes, in my conversations with my colleague health ministers across Canada, that's the key discussion, the key challenge: how to support health care workers. We obviously know that this is mostly a provincial responsibility, but it's also a shared responsibility, and that's why we did the right thing during COVID-19, and we'll continue to do the right thing, which is to support the efforts of the provinces and territories to train, to hire and to retain those health care workers, not only because of COVID-19 but obviously because of what you also know, which is the long-term challenge around our health and health care systems.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sean Casey
You do not. You're right on the dot. Thank you, Mr. Davies.
Next is Dr. Ellis, please, for five minutes.
Conservative
Luc Berthold Conservative Mégantic—L'Érable, QC
Mr. Chair, I will start. I'll be sharing my time with Dr. Ellis.
Conservative
Luc Berthold Conservative Mégantic—L'Érable, QC
Thank you.
Minister Duclos, we're nearing the end of the meeting. Over the past few days, you have given many interviews and I must ask you a question.
In your opinion, should the response to the pandemic be guided by science, policy or personal intuition?
You have the opportunity to respond.
Liberal
Jean-Yves Duclos Liberal Québec, QC
It must be guided by science, and that means vaccination. We all have a role to play and an example to set. As members of Parliament, we must get vaccinated—