Evidence of meeting #93 for Health in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was actions.
A video is available from Parliament.
Director General, Department of Public Works and Government Services
I understand that the reasons communicated by the World Health Organization related to the ownership of Medicago and not to the vaccine itself.
Again, our purpose for the advance purchase agreement was to procure vaccines. The purpose was not for donation. The purpose—
Bloc
Julie Vignola Bloc Beauport—Limoilou, QC
Okay.
So it had nothing to do with the effectiveness of the vaccine and everything to do with the shareholder.
Director General, Department of Public Works and Government Services
Yes, exactly.
Bloc
Julie Vignola Bloc Beauport—Limoilou, QC
Thank you.
Was the vaccine properly evaluated, or did they simply look at the list of company shareholders?
Director General, Department of Public Works and Government Services
I don't have that information.
Bloc
Julie Vignola Bloc Beauport—Limoilou, QC
If Canada had contravened this WHO verdict, what would the consequences have been?
Director General, Department of Public Works and Government Services
In February 2022, Health Canada approved the use of the vaccine in Canada. We therefore didn't need WHO approval.
Director General, Department of Public Works and Government Services
We never received the doses from Medicago because the contract was terminated.
Bloc
Julie Vignola Bloc Beauport—Limoilou, QC
If the contract had not been terminated, Canada would have been able to distribute the doses, but not internationally.
Have I got that right?
Director General, Department of Public Works and Government Services
Yes, that's right.
Bloc
Julie Vignola Bloc Beauport—Limoilou, QC
Aramis Biotechnologies recently purchased Medicago's headquarters.
By purchasing the headquarters and the attached greenhouse units, has Aramis Biotechnologies automatically acquired Medicago's intellectual property?
Director General, Department of Public Works and Government Services
I don't have that information.
Bloc
Julie Vignola Bloc Beauport—Limoilou, QC
Thank you.
You said that seven advance purchase agreements had been signed for the vaccines. We know that the one with Medicago didn't work, but what about the remaining six?
Were vaccines received under each of the other six agreements?
Director General, Department of Public Works and Government Services
One more contract was cancelled, but the other five delivered.
Director General, Department of Public Works and Government Services
It was the contract with Sanofi.
Director General, Department of Public Works and Government Services
I don't have that information either.
Bloc
Julie Vignola Bloc Beauport—Limoilou, QC
Okay.
Could you send that information to the committee, please?
December 4th, 2023 / 1:30 p.m.
Director General, Department of Public Works and Government Services
Yes, I will.
Bloc
Julie Vignola Bloc Beauport—Limoilou, QC
Thank you very much.
Mr. Hayes, you spoke about 169 million doses. Do the 169 million doses ordered include those borrowed under the international COVAX mechanism?
Deputy Auditor General, Office of the Auditor General
Yes, that figure includes all doses made available to Canada.
Bloc
Julie Vignola Bloc Beauport—Limoilou, QC
All right.
Did we reimburse, if I can use that term, COVAX? Did Canada return the doses it had in hand under the COVAX mechanism?
Deputy Auditor General, Office of the Auditor General
I don't know. That's perhaps a question for the department.