Health Committee on March 23rd, 2023

[Dr. Howard Njoo, Deputy Chief Public Health Officer, Public Health Agency of Canada]

In terms of the alcohol, everyone is aware of the new alcohol drinking guidelines, and I would say that I think it's been something long awaited. Certainly, in terms of what I think the average Canadian thinks has been the quota up to now for a safe or acceptable drinking limit in terms of the number of drinks per week, I think it's been sobering, if that's the right term to use—

[Don Davies, NDP, Vancouver Kingsway, BC]

Pun intended.

[Dr. Howard Njoo]

—even for me, in terms of what it is.

I would say, yes, the evidence is there that Canadians need to make informed choices for themselves. I think it's important to have that information. It is a lifestyle issue, but there are also some other aspects to consider beyond the pure point about the risk of various diseases. Some people talk about the social benefits and so on. It's all part of the equation, I think. As we move forward as a country and as individuals, I think we recognize that everything in moderation is probably the way to go.

I would say that in terms of the specific aspect, yes, the evidence is there that it is a potential carcinogen for lots of different types of cancers. In terms of the next step forward from a regulatory perspective, I would defer to my regulatory colleagues in that regard.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sean Casey]

Thank you, Dr. Njoo.

Next is Ms. Goodridge, please, for five minutes.

[Laila Goodridge, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Cold Lake, AB]

Thank you.

I find it quite ironic that you're talking about limiting alcohol while your government is also funding the providing of free drugs to people struggling with addiction and saying that's supposedly safe supply. The irony is pretty rich.

I'm going to shift gears to something that has been really pressing and in the news a lot lately in regard to baby formula. Really simply, how much baby formula is produced in Canada?

[Jean-Yves Duclos, Liberal, Québec, QC]

Thank you for pointing to that, Ms. Goodridge. We did talk about this personally in the last days and weeks.

I want to thank you and congratulate you for your leadership on this as a young mother. Like you, as a parent, I too know and feel this stress and sometimes the distress that comes with not having access to essential infant formula in the formulation, the sizes—

[Laila Goodridge, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Cold Lake, AB]

Minister, how much is produced in Canada?

[Jean-Yves Duclos, Liberal, Québec, QC]

We don't produce any in Canada. That's why this is a challenging file, and that's why we have been working with—

[Laila Goodridge, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Cold Lake, AB]

Is there any spending in the estimates to increase domestic production of baby formula?

[Sonia Sidhu, Liberal, Brampton South, ON]

I have a point of order, Mr. Chair.

We really want to listen to the answer from the minister.

[Laila Goodridge, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Cold Lake, AB]

I'm doing the same, on my time.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sean Casey]

Ms. Goodridge is entirely within her rights. It was a very short question. She's entitled to a short answer. I think the big thing here, out of respect for the interpreters, is that we try to not talk over one another.

Bear in mind, witnesses, that we've done pretty well in terms of members keeping their questions at about the same length as the answers. We would ask you to do the same.

Ms. Goodridge, you won't lose time for that intervention. Go right ahead.

[Laila Goodridge, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Cold Lake, AB]

Is there any specific spending in these estimates to increase the domestic supply and production of baby formula?

[Jean-Yves Duclos, Liberal, Québec, QC]

That's why we are doing a number of different things.

Yes, we're going to encourage and support whatever ability we have to produce infant formula domestically, because the challenge we have now is that since we depend entirely on foreign production, when there are plant breakages or recalls of formula, we are impacted severely by the external factors.

[Laila Goodridge, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Cold Lake, AB]

Thank you.

How much is being spent in these estimates to increase the domestic production of baby formula?

[Jean-Yves Duclos, Liberal, Québec, QC]

That's why, in addition to what I just said, what we've done—and Dr. Sharma can expand on that—is to use an interim policy, which has brought in 70 additional different formulas—

[Laila Goodridge, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Cold Lake, AB]

I'm asking for the specific amount of money being spent. Is there any money being spent?

[Jean-Yves Duclos, Liberal, Québec, QC]

I can't answer that directly, but I will turn for that to Dr. Sharma. As I've said, we are...and Dr. Sharma can provide the right level of detail, which you're rightly asking for—

[Laila Goodridge, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Cold Lake, AB]

Minister, it's really frustrating. I'm asking really simple and really direct questions. I'm not having a big preamble here.

I don't understand. If there is money being spent, how much? If there isn't money being spent, just admit it to Canadians. Parents deserve to have these answers.

[Jean-Yves Duclos, Liberal, Québec, QC]

Let's turn to Dr. Sharma. This is a totally appropriate question, and we'll ask Dr. Sharma to make it more precise as to what the department is doing to accelerate and to simplify the delivering of infant formula to Canadian families.

[Dr. Supriya Sharma]

Thank you.

The direct answer is that there isn't dedicated funding for it at this time, because we're actually working with other departments, including ISED. I'll also add that currently in Canada we have over 150 formulas that are approved and another 70 that were brought in temporarily, so in terms of which formulas might be useful to have manufactured in Canada, it's still being discussed, but also—

[Laila Goodridge, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Cold Lake, AB]

It's—

[The Chair, Liberal, Sean Casey]

Thank you, Dr. Sharma.

[Dr. Supriya Sharma]

—there is one company in Canada that has provided a submission to Health Canada to produce formulas here.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sean Casey]

Thank you.