Health Committee on Dec. 9th, 2025

[Kendal Weber]

I don't want to say something today that would be incorrect, so I'll get back to you to let you know. I don't have the actual numbers, but we fund hundreds of programs.

[Helena Konanz, Conservative, Similkameen—South Okanagan—West Kootenay, BC]

Okay, so you can't remember an abstinence space one, though.

[Kendal Weber]

If I said it right now, and I didn't get it right, I would really regret—

[Helena Konanz, Conservative, Similkameen—South Okanagan—West Kootenay, BC]

Could you table at this committee the number of abstinence-based program organizations that have received funding through the substance use and addictions program? ?

[Kendal Weber]

I can take that question back.

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Dan Mazier]

Thank you.

This is our last round.

We have Helena Jaczek with the Liberals for five minutes.

[Helena Jaczek, Liberal, Markham—Stouffville, ON]

Thank you, Chair.

Thank you to all the witnesses for your testimony.

Ms. Hamzawi, you mentioned that PHAC is seeking $47.6 million for pandemic vaccine preparedness, and we're very well aware of the global scramble that was in relation to COVID-19. Could you elaborate and speak to exactly how this money is going to be used in order to prepare us for an inevitable future pandemic?

[Nancy Hamzawi]

To fulfill its federal responsibility for pandemic readiness, the government maintains contracts with vaccine suppliers to reserve priority access to a population-scale supply of pandemic influenza vaccine in the event of an influenza pandemic. The contract includes the ability to procure and stockpile to reduce the risk of supply chain delays or disruptions, allowing the government to maintain security of supply and fulfill its mandate for timely pandemic readiness.

We have sought to access existing funding moving from our fiscal framework to reference levels for the procurement and stockpiling of adjuvants in this fiscal year, 2025-26, under a current contract. This enables timely access to vaccines in the event of a pandemic and mitigates the risk of possible supply chain disruption. It protects us from that, if borders were closed or policies to restrict export of critical medical countermeasures were enacted by other countries, and we understand that it is a potential risk at this time.

[Helena Jaczek, Liberal, Markham—Stouffville, ON]

Thank you so much. That's very reassuring.

At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, in fact, there was testimony at this committee—and I was a member at that time in early 2020—that the stockpile of personal protective equipment had been allowed to expire. Could you reassure us on that particular front, again in terms of pandemic preparedness for the future?

[Nancy Hamzawi]

Maybe it is to be very clear on the stockpile. In scenarios where supplies may have been expired, we do not distribute those across the country. They go through a divestment strategy. We try to avoid them reaching expiry by looking at selling them through GCSurplus, so we're looking at opportunities to have access before they reach the stage of expiry. If there is expired supply, we then divest through a number of means, whether its recycling or disposal.

[Helena Jaczek, Liberal, Markham—Stouffville, ON]

Presumably you replenish the stockpile with brand new PPE.

[Nancy Hamzawi]

Absolutely. Now we have an additional policy overlay with the buy Canada policy, in terms of maximizing Canadian product.

[Helena Jaczek, Liberal, Markham—Stouffville, ON]

I think we're all very pleased to hear about the buy Canada piece as well.

Dr. Crowcroft, we're well aware that we've had major measles outbreaks across Canada, and there seems to be a great deal of misinformation in regard to the safety of vaccines. We're not seeing the type of herd immunity that we would like to see, particularly in terms of childhood vaccination rates.

Could you explain how, as the interim chief public health officer for Canada, you're trying to combat this misinformation?

[Natasha Crowcroft]

Misinformation and disinformation are major challenges to immunization programs, to public health in general and to health security. It's been flagged as a major issue.

The Public Health Agency of Canada has been funding information campaigns for parents, which are designed to address misinformation and disinformation. We're also ready to go out with information when new stories hit the media, especially when something comes out that raises flags or concerns. We do that in partnership with others because we do everything in partnerships.

As a good example, when the acetaminophen and autism story came out, Health Canada was very quick to post information; we were ready to do that. We have an agile position in order to respond. We know there's still work to be done.

Honestly, the most trusted person for parents is their health care provider, and that's where they need to hear the messages. We really do focus on that level of the system.

Thank you.

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Dan Mazier]

Thank you.

That's the end of this round of questions.

I have one question for Ms. Weber, and I'll take the chair's prerogative.

Can you table with the committee all completed applications and corresponding signed agreements from Health Canada for the substance use and addictions program and for the emergency treatment fund since 2020?

[Kendal Weber]

I will get back to you. I think that shouldn't be a problem.

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Dan Mazier]

Thank you very much.

With that, we thank the witnesses for coming out.

We'll do a change of witnesses, and we'll start the next hour.

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Dan Mazier]

We'll resume for our second hour.

Pursuant to Standing Order 108(2) and the motion adopted by the committee on Tuesday, September 23, the committee shall resume its study of antimicrobial resistance.

I would like to welcome the witnesses who are here again. We have some new witnesses, as well, from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and the Public Health Agency of Canada.

I understand that just two of you will be giving a five-minute presentation. Dr. Kaushic or whoever wishes to can kick it off.

[Nancy Hamzawi]

Mr. Chair, thank you very much. I am happy to kick off with the first statement. Then I will turn it over to my colleague Dr. Kaushic from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research so she can provide her statement.

We are pleased to be here today to contribute to your important study on antimicrobial resistance, AMR.

AMR is one of the world's top 10 most serious health threats. Microbes, including bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites, can change in ways that make antimicrobial drugs less effective. This is a natural process, but it is accelerated when antimicrobials such as antibiotics are used too often or inappropriately in people, animals and crops.

Canada has over 20 years of experience in integrated AMR surveillance. The Canadian antimicrobial resistance surveillance system, CARSS, tracks trends in resistance and antibiotic use across humans, animals, food and the environment in order to guide national action.

Globally, AMR is now a leading cause of death, causing an estimated 1.14 million deaths in 2021 alone. In Canada, in 2018, nearly 15 people per day were estimated to have lost their lives to antimicrobial-resistant infections. The impacts are disproportionately felt in low-middle income countries, and the threat of AMR transcends borders due to the global movement of people, animals and goods.

The impact of AMR on Canadians is clear, with 26% of infections already resistant to first-line antimicrobials. The Public Health Agency of Canada estimates that one resistant infection is detected for every 220 patients admitted to acute-care hospitals. In 2018, AMR was estimated to have caused 5,400 deaths, cost the health care system about $1.4 billion and reduced GDP by $2 billion. Data also suggests that there are disproportionate AMR impacts on some populations in Canada, including long-term care residents.

Because AMR is a One Health issue where resistance can develop and spread among people, animals, food systems and the environment, multi-jurisdictional and multisectoral collaboration to address AMR is essential.

Domestic action on AMR is coordinated by PHAC in collaboration with other federal departments, provinces and territories, indigenous peoples, multi-sectoral stakeholders and other partners.

In 2023, the federal Minister of Health and Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food jointly released the pan-Canadian action plan on AMR. The action plan provides a five-year blueprint for strengthening Canada’s collective response and leadership on AMR using a one health approach.

We are halfway through implementing the action plan and continue to make progress. Later this winter, PHAC will be releasing a year-two progress report. It is coming soon and will detail achievements across areas of action, such as research and innovation, stewardship and leadership.

A few weeks ago, the Government of Canada participated in the annual World AMR Awareness Week. During that week, we had the opportunity to highlight some of our achievements to date, reinforcing this year’s theme for World AMR Awareness Week; we are acting now, protecting our present and securing our future.

Canada continues to strengthen AMR and antimicrobial use surveillance; however, the landscape is evolving. Trends for several prioritized human AMR pathogens are increasing in Canada, including resistant infections commonly seen in hospitals, as well as drug-resistant sexually transmitted infections.

Strengthening antimicrobial stewardship, maintaining strong infection prevention and control, and sustaining immunization efforts are all essential to reducing the burden of AMR and preserving the effectiveness of the treatments we have today. PHAC is working across jurisdictions and with international partners to advance these actions, as well as planning for emerging priorities such as AMR linkages to health security.

This work extends beyond Canada's borders. Over the past few years, the Government of Canada has committed to several international AMR initiatives, including the 2024 United Nations General Assembly political declaration on AMR. Canada is working with global partners to advance the goals set out in that declaration, recognizing that AMR threats move across countries and continents. International progress helps limit the spread of resistant organisms and, in turn, protects the health of Canadians at home.

Thank you again for the opportunity to speak with the committee about this important issue today. The Public Health Agency of Canada recognizes that AMR is a growing threat that requires sustained attention and coordinated action.

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Dan Mazier]

Thank you.

Now we have Dr. Kaushic for five minutes.

[Dr. Charu Kaushic, Scientific Director, Institute of Infection and Immunity, Canadian Institutes of Health Research]

Thank you very much, Chair.

Mr. Chair and members, thank you for the invitation to appear before this committee as part of your study on the global threat posed by antimicrobial resistance. I'm pleased to be here with you today as the scientific director of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research's institute of infection and immunity.

As my colleague from PHAC mentioned, antimicrobial resistance threatens our ability to treat common illnesses and perform routine medical procedures, and it kills about 15 people in Canada every day. Microbes know no border. This reality has prompted urgent international action, and Canada must be part of the solution.

As a federal research funding organization, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, CIHR, is committed to advancing AMR research and strengthening Canada's capacity and leadership in this area, both domestically and internationally. Canada has world-class research talent in antimicrobial biology, diagnostics and alternative therapies. However, funding research alone is not enough. That is why CIHR is renewing its emphasis on collaboration for impact, which reflects key principles of the agency's core mandate.

To maximize the impact of our investments, we are working with our partners to improve knowledge mobilization, including the commercialization pathway, so that Canadian innovations do not stall before reaching patients. Our goal is simple: turn promising discoveries into real-world solutions.

Over the past five years, CIHR has invested approximately $96.3 million in AMR research, in domestic efforts and in ensuring Canada's participation in international collaboration. These investments have supported ground-breaking initiatives, such as the largest clinical trial on bloodstream infection, which is advancing antibiotic treatment strategies to improve patient outcomes and combat resistance. A second example is the training grant that was given to the next generation of experts to collaborate across disciplines, sectors and borders, because AMR is a complex One Health challenge that spans human, animal and environmental health.

CIHR is also proud to champion the development of a national research strategy as part of the pan-Canadian action plan on AMR. This collaboration seeks to align research priorities with policy and practice, creating a coordinated approach across Canada to accelerate solutions.

Through CIHR, Canada is also playing a leadership role internationally. We are a key partner in a 10-year collaboration of 53 organizations from 30 countries and the European Commission. Together, we aim to achieve long-term reductions in AMR levels and better public health outcomes.

This builds on previous multinational investments that have fostered global co-operation for impact in advancing antibiotic stewardship and innovation. These efforts are supporting the exploration of cutting-edge approaches such as strengthening immune defences, advanced infection-tracking tools, treatments using helpful microbes and coordinated One Health strategies for people, animals and environment. CIHR also participates in a transatlantic collaboration that promotes data sharing, awareness campaigns and joint research to improve antibiotic use and drive innovation.

While research is essential, it must be paired with a clear path to adoption. CIHR's vision is to foster partnerships with industry, clinicians and regulators early in the process. These partnerships lead to innovations that are developed with implementation and impact in mind, not just publication. This includes supporting a domestic pipeline for antimicrobial diagnostics and alternative therapies.

In short, Canada's researchers are among the best in the world. We need to leverage this talent and mobilize knowledge in a timely and effective manner so that health systems can make informed decisions on how to address AMR.

In conclusion, as Canada's health research funder, CIHR is committed to improving the health and prosperity of all Canadians. Addressing AMR is central to this mission. Through collaboration for impact and by supporting research that advances interventions, be they new drugs, non-pharmacological strategies or next-generation diagnostics, we are helping Canada and the world confront this urgent threat.

Thank you. I will be pleased to answer your questions.

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Dan Mazier]

Thank you very much.

We'll now start with the questions and I will kick off the first round for the Conservatives for six minutes.

Ms. Hamzawi, we heard about the national emergency stockpile program during the first meeting of this study. The national emergency strategic stockpile, NESS, is a network of warehouses across Canada where the government stores medical supplies, vaccines and emergency response equipment. According to media reports, last year the Public Health Agency of Canada lost more than $20 million worth of products from the national emergency stockpile.

What exactly did your agency lose?

[Nancy Hamzawi]

First, we take any losses from the NESS very seriously no matter how small they may be. The vehicle by which we communicate that transparently to you and to Canadians is through the public accounts, and so we did report those losses through the public accounts. There were two things that we reported: first, damage to infrastructure in January 2024, which resulted in our reporting losses of testing and biomedical equipment. That was $1,168,311 for the testing equipment and $395,437 for biomedical equipment. Then, second, there was a loss of pharmaceutical product in the order of $20,436,373, which occurred in December 2024. That's what we reported in the public accounts.

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Dan Mazier]

Were any vaccines lost?

[Nancy Hamzawi]

In terms of the pharmaceutical loss that occurred in December 2024, it involved a quantity of treatment for a biological threat. As you are aware, the national emergency strategic stockpile is there to ensure that we're ready to respond to accidental or intentional threats, whether they're chemical or biological. This particular loss was associated with a treatment.

However, I would also note that we maintain a range of treatment options for various threats, so we are prepared. That loss has not put Canada at risk. We have replenished...we've started the replenishment process—