Evidence of meeting #17 for Health in the 45th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was funding.
A video is available from Parliament.
Liberal
Helena Jaczek Liberal Markham—Stouffville, ON
That's very helpful. Thank you.
Another gap that was identified was the lack of rapid testing in terms of the ability across various spectrums to potentially, in the stewardship piece of this, avoid unnecessary use of antimicrobials for infections. Has there been any progress in spreading the use of rapid testing across Canada?
President, Public Health Agency of Canada
This has been an issue that has been raised at the federal, provincial and territorial tables. Our role at the federal level of convening our provincial and territorial partners...we certainly have exercised in this space. However, ultimately, it's the provinces and territories that make the decisions around rapid testing and the degree to which it's available. Certainly, we're doing everything we can to mobilize that knowledge and shine a light on best practices across the country.
Liberal
Helena Jaczek Liberal Markham—Stouffville, ON
Dr. Kaushic, we've also heard a lot about the commercialization and use in Canada of new antimicrobials. In terms of what CIHR is doing to assist with this, you talked of alternative therapies. There has been a demand for push and pull incentives for drug companies to invest in seeking these alternative therapies.
What is the role that you can play in assisting with this?
Scientific Director, Institute of Infection and Immunity, Canadian Institutes of Health Research
That's a really good question.
I think, in terms of the push and pull measures that can be assisted by research funding.... As you know, CIHR has invested $93 million. Much of it, about two-thirds of it—about $75 million—is in open programming, where researchers themselves apply and get funding for what they think are the best things that need to come out in AMR research within Canada. Among those are many researchers who are entrepreneurial and who want to test the diagnostics or the next product in order to be able to take it into the market and really take it into a small or medium-sized enterprise.
CIHR funds that—
Conservative
The Vice-Chair Conservative Dan Mazier
Thank you.
I'm sorry. I have to interrupt you. If you could table any more information on that, I think we would appreciate that.
Scientific Director, Institute of Infection and Immunity, Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Yes, I'm happy to do that.
Conservative
The Vice-Chair Conservative Dan Mazier
Thank you so much.
We'll go to Ms. Larouche for two and a half minutes.
Bloc
Andréanne Larouche Bloc Shefford, QC
Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
Dr. Kaushic, as a doctor, do you think the current funding for AMR research is sufficient, given the severity of the threat?
Scientific Director, Institute of Infection and Immunity, Canadian Institutes of Health Research
As I said, the Government of Canada has put together the pan-Canadian action plan, which involves all the different pillars of action that are typically required for the seriousness of the issue that antimicrobial resistance presents. This is comparable to most other countries and the way they put together their national action plan.
I can comment specifically on the research component of that pan-Canadian action plan. We are leading a national One Health AMR strategy with our other federal partners—including Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, the Public Health Agency, and Environment Canada—to take a One Health approach to prioritizing where the research investments will result in the best outcomes in terms of protecting Canadians' health and making sure that we can save the health systems significant investments.
I think we are on track for that. I'm happy to elaborate more, but I'll let you use your time for questions.
Bloc
Andréanne Larouche Bloc Shefford, QC
You're talking about the importance of providing resources for research.
There is talk of budget cuts of around 15%, as indicated on page 350 of the budget. We're also seeing reductions in the public health sector, including a loss of employees due to budget cuts at the NML. I also asked you a question about the supply of lower-quality products.
Why is it important in the fight against antimicrobial resistance to allocate financial resources through transfers or additional research investments?
Scientific Director, Institute of Infection and Immunity, Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Fortunately, both in budget 2024 and now in budget 2025, research has mostly been protected from many of the cuts. While the cuts are happening at the agency level, even within CIHR the operating budgets are pretty much protected from the cuts.
The research funding had actually increased overall in budgets 2024 and 2025, so we are in pretty good shape in terms of investment in AMR research, with more than $93 million. About $15 million a year is invested in this and both strategic areas, as well as open funding, which encourages innovation in this area.
Conservative
The Vice-Chair Conservative Dan Mazier
Excellent. That's the end of that round.
Mr. Bailey, you have five minutes.
Conservative
Burton Bailey Conservative Red Deer, AB
Ms. Hamzawi, you mentioned that we don't have a Canadian supplier for gloves. Are we robustly looking for a new supplier to supply gloves for our hospitals?
President, Public Health Agency of Canada
Just to be clear, the purchase of gloves for hospitals is done at the provincial level. We are a backstop. The national strategic stockpile is for the purpose of emergencies. We're not buying gloves for hospitals today. That is something that the provinces are doing. They also have their own stockpiles in case of emergencies. We're another layer of protection.
We're always looking for opportunities to have the best possible quality and value for Canadians in all of our products—not just gloves.
Conservative
Vice-President, Regulatory, Operations and Emergency Management Branch, Public Health Agency of Canada
In the context of our procurement approach, obviously we work very closely with Public Services and Procurement Canada. As you know, there is a buy Canadian strategy that is rolling out. It was announced last month and has a focus in a few other areas. Health is not incorporated at this point.
As that evolves as a strategy, there may be potential for us to focus on Canadian companies more with the appropriate policy authorities. At this time, though, when we do our procurements with PSPC, we do look for Canadian companies where we can have them on a security-supply basis.
Conservative
Burton Bailey Conservative Red Deer, AB
Mr. Bent, the president just indicated that the only item that we were not securing was gloves. We were asking about China. We've had other meetings here where 90% of procurement, when it comes to specialty gowns, comes from China. This is why I'm asking you about the gloves. We know there are Canadian companies that make the gowns, but you don't support them.
Are we going to make this robust and start getting Canadian gloves manufactured?
Vice-President, Regulatory, Operations and Emergency Management Branch, Public Health Agency of Canada
In the context of the development of our biomanufacturing and life sciences sector, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada is leading the strategy to continue to build our sectors in the context of health. I would offer that, in that space, investing in companies would be an area they would be responsible for.
Conservative
Burton Bailey Conservative Red Deer, AB
Thank you, Mr. Bent.
Mr. Chair, given what we've heard here today, I would like to move the following motion. It's non-partisan. It's for the Public Health Agency of Canada president to be one hour public and one hour in camera.
I would like to read this motion:
That the committee invite the Public Health Agency of Canada to testify on the recently reported $20 million loss of supplies from the national emergency stockpile, with one hour in public and one hour in camera, by February 10, 2026.
Liberal
Conservative
The Vice-Chair Conservative Dan Mazier
We're back to order.
Mr. Bailey, we were discussing your motion. Could you repeat it, please?
Conservative
Burton Bailey Conservative Red Deer, AB
Thank you, Chair.
My motion is as follows:
That the committee invite the Public Health Agency of Canada to testify on the recently reported $20 million loss of supplies from the national emergency stockpile, with one hour in public and one hour in camera, by February 10, 2026.
