I call this meeting to order.
Welcome to meeting number 94 of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Health.
Today's meeting is taking place in a hybrid format, pursuant to the Standing Orders, although I don't think we have any virtual participants for the first panel, so we can dispense with that.
Pursuant to Standing Order 108(2) and the motion adopted on November 8, 2023, the committee is resuming its study of the government's advance purchase agreement for vaccines with Medicago.
I'd like to welcome the Honourable Mark Holland, Minister of Health, as well as the officials accompanying him this evening. From the Department of Health, we have Dr. Celia Lourenco, associate assistant deputy minister, health products and food branch. From the Public Health Agency of Canada, we have Heather Jeffrey, president; and Dr. Donald Sheppard, vice-president, infectious diseases and vaccination programs branch.
Thank you all for taking the time to appear this evening.
Before I call on Minister Holland to begin his opening statement, I want to remind colleagues that we have a convention here that the witness is allowed as much time to answer as the person used posing the question. You have discretion as to whether to let him go longer. I will make sure that he gets at least as much time, and it's up to you whether to give him more.
With that, Minister, welcome to the committee. You have the floor for the next five minutes.