Evidence of meeting #86 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.
8:05 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sean Casey
Maybe you'll get a chance to ask that when you get the floor. It's not a point of order.
Go ahead and finish your answer, Minister. There are 40 seconds left in this round of questioning.
8:05 p.m.
NDP
8:05 p.m.
Liberal
8:05 p.m.
NDP
Don Davies NDP Vancouver Kingsway, BC
Thanks.
My last question is that, in 2021, former health minister Patty Hajdu told Canadians that a full investigation into Canada's COVID-19 response would be required at the appropriate time. In September 2022, former health minister Jean-Yves Duclos noted that a decision on a federal COVID inquiry would come soon. We note that the government has failed to take any action since.
In fact, when I recently moved an amendment at this committee to establish an independent COVID-19 public inquiry under the Inquiries Act, Liberals voted against it and the Conservatives abstained, killing the inquiry.
Can you explain to us, Mr. Minister, why a fully independent, comprehensive and penetrating inquiry into Canada's response to the most severe pandemic in the century isn't needed, or when it might be convened?
8:05 p.m.
Liberal
8:05 p.m.
Liberal
Mark Holland Liberal Ajax, ON
Let me start by saying that we are utterly committed. There are already scores of studies going on reviewing Canada's pandemic response, which was among the best in the world with one of the lowest death rates in the world.
We are committed to having a pandemic review. We are looking forward to talking about that, but it's essential that it be forward-facing and constructive so that we can be ready to prepare and protect Canadians to the greatest extent of our ability.
8:05 p.m.
Liberal
8:05 p.m.
Conservative
Robert Gordon Kitchen Conservative Souris—Moose Mountain, SK
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Minister, thank you for being here.
Minister, your mandate letter states the following: “Governments must draw on lessons learned from the pandemic to further adapt and develop more agile...ways to serve Canadians.”
How is this supposed to happen when your government refuses to hold an actual national public inquiry?
8:05 p.m.
Liberal
Mark Holland Liberal Ajax, ON
As I mentioned, scores of reviews are happening right now. We are talking with our international partners as well about their reviews and lessons learned. I've just indicated that we will be looking at a pandemic review mechanism—
8:05 p.m.
Conservative
Robert Gordon Kitchen Conservative Souris—Moose Mountain, SK
Thank you, Minister. We are short on time.
The reality is that you were asked that question today in question period, and you basically didn't give a date at that time. Your colleagues have given responses similar to what you've said we're going to do over the last three years, yet we don't have an actual date.
Can you give us an actual date today, please?
8:10 p.m.
Liberal
Mark Holland Liberal Ajax, ON
I can't give it to you at this time. Unfortunately, we continue to live through the pandemic—
8:10 p.m.
Conservative
Robert Gordon Kitchen Conservative Souris—Moose Mountain, SK
If you can't give us—
Okay. Thank you for that.
8:10 p.m.
Liberal
Mark Holland Liberal Ajax, ON
Mr. Chair, I believe I have the same amount of time as was given to ask the question.
8:10 p.m.
Conservative
Robert Gordon Kitchen Conservative Souris—Moose Mountain, SK
Ultimately, the question was very short. It was asking if you can give us a date. You can't give us a date. Therefore, the question was answered.
8:10 p.m.
Liberal
8:10 p.m.
Conservative
Robert Gordon Kitchen Conservative Souris—Moose Mountain, SK
The question I now have is this: If you can't give us a date, can you tell us exactly when you think that date will be?
8:10 p.m.
Liberal
Mark Holland Liberal Ajax, ON
I think it will be in the near future that, if I can be given an opportunity to elaborate...or are you done? Did you get what you wanted?
8:10 p.m.
Conservative
Robert Gordon Kitchen Conservative Souris—Moose Mountain, SK
I got what I wanted, which is “the near future”. Thank you.
On that very issue, you were asked today a question in the House of Commons. Your answer to that was basically saying that you were going to do a “forward-facing review”.
Now, I'm an educated man. I've done many research studies. I've never done one that was actually called a “forward-facing review”. Can you tell us very quickly what a forward-facing review is, please?
8:10 p.m.
Liberal
Mark Holland Liberal Ajax, ON
It's making sure that we are incorporating and metabolizing the lessons of the pandemic so that we can ensure that they prepare us for the future and that the next time we're facing a pandemic, God forbid, we are as prepared as possible as we continue to navigate the one that we're currently in.
8:10 p.m.
Conservative
Robert Gordon Kitchen Conservative Souris—Moose Mountain, SK
Thank you.
Ultimately, your mandate letter further states, and multiple times it states, that you are to review the “lessons learned from the pandemic”, which naturally requires you to reflect on your government's past mistakes. Is that going to be included in this review?
8:10 p.m.
Liberal
Mark Holland Liberal Ajax, ON
Absolutely. I think every country around the world, as it was dealing with this pandemic that nobody expected, realizes there were things they could have done better. Part of this process is acknowledging that, learning from it and making sure we incorporate those lessons so that we're as prepared as possible in the future.
8:10 p.m.
Conservative
Robert Gordon Kitchen Conservative Souris—Moose Mountain, SK
Thank you.
Minister, can you tell me how much money PHAC basically is forecasted to have spent in 2022-23?
8:10 p.m.
Conservative
Robert Gordon Kitchen Conservative Souris—Moose Mountain, SK
No, I'm sorry. I'm asking the minister.
Minister, if you can't give that, to avoid our having to get the response, I can give you the answer.