Health Committee on Dec. 9th, 2025

[Sonia Sidhu, Liberal, Brampton South, ON]

You talked about the pan-Canadian action plan, which would provide the five-year blueprint emphasizing prevention, stewardship and surveillance.

How is PHAC using the framework to coordinate with other provinces and jurisdictions to improve Canada's preparedness for AMR?

[Nancy Hamzawi]

I'll turn to my colleagues in a bit.

Just to note, the pan-Canadian action plan is a federal-provincial-territorial action plan. We have governance in place with an FPT committee. We also have an interdepartmental committee that brings all of the key departmental players to make sure we have that One Health approach—human, animal and environmental accountability together at one table, moving forward on a variety of issues that we are seized with collectively. We also have a deputy One Health committee, so there is a robust governance.

I'll turn it over to Dhurata.

[Dhurata Ikonomi, Executive Director, Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Task Force, Public Health Agency of Canada]

Thank you.

My name is Dhurata Ikonomi, and I'm the executive director of the AMR task force located in the Public Health Agency of Canada. This is the focal point organization that was put together in 2021, first, to develop the pan-Canadian action plan and is now leading the coordination and the implementation of the pan-Canadian action plan across Canada.

As Nancy mentioned, there is a robust AMR governance set up with the committees that were previously mentioned. We also have an expert advisory committee with members who are experts from different jurisdictions and different sectors. Half of those members actually have been witnesses, either at this committee or at the science and innovation committee. All the work that we do and all the actions under the five pillars are coordinated from a One Health lens in terms of policy, surveillance or stewardship, and we are coordinating our efforts with provincial and territorial partners.

[Sonia Sidhu, Liberal, Brampton South, ON]

In your testimony, you said that the burden of AMR is in the millions, GDP is in the billions and pathogens are seeking to be stronger.

What is the community level? You talk about using data sharing, so what kind of data sharing are you using? Are you using an AI model?

Could you elaborate on that?

[Nancy Hamzawi]

We have a robust surveillance system in place. I mentioned the Canadian antimicrobial resistance surveillance system, CARSS, which tracks trends, resistance and antibiotic use across humans, animals, food and the environment to guide national actions. It taps more than 10 other surveillance systems by pulling it all together. That then informs, for example, programs at the Public Health Agency to make sure that we're being responsive to where the key areas of focus need to be for intervention.

It also taps information from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and other surveillance systems.

Dhurata, I don't know if you want to speak further on that.

[Dhurata Ikonomi]

Yes, Canada is well known for a very robust, integrated One Health surveillance system. Of course, it is the system that brings together all the input from the 10 other surveillance systems that are in PHAC.

We are working very closely with our PT partners and other the federal departments. Our focus has very much been on expanding our surveillance systems with investments that we've been receiving from the recent budget investments and on looking at the data gaps and expanding where possible.

Most recently, we are also trying to put investments in the environmental surveillance data. Yesterday, we launched the AMR surveillance strategy, which is a framework for us to include the environmental data.

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Dan Mazier]

Ms. Larouche, go ahead for six minutes.

[Andréanne Larouche, Bloc, Shefford, QC]

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.

Thank you very much to the witnesses for being here today for this important study on antimicrobial resistance.

Ms. Hamzawi, if I understood your opening remarks correctly, you talked about links with the CFIA to ensure safety and verify compliance.

More generally, at previous meetings, we've also heard testimony about the importance of reciprocal standards and the impact of agri-food products entering Canada from countries that don't have the same standards as we do.

What exactly are the impacts of that on antimicrobial resistance?

Why is it important to work with the CFIA?

What are the impacts of those agricultural products coming into Canada?

[Nancy Hamzawi]

Thank you very much for the question.

As I said in my opening remarks, the one health approach is very important in terms of the links between humans and animals. It's important to make sure we have that capacity, and the links are evident in our approaches. For example, the committee of deputy ministers is co-chaired by a member of PHAC and the deputy minister of agriculture and agri-food Canada. Our governance reflects the importance of those links.

We have our commitments in terms of those committees, but also in terms of our work on high-risk diseases or cases. We're always in contact with our colleagues at the CFIA. This week, we were in contact to discuss the avian flu situation, so we work very closely with the CFIA.

My colleague might have something to add.

[Andréanne Larouche, Bloc, Shefford, QC]

I'd like to come back specifically to the reciprocity of standards and compliance with standards when it comes to products entering Canada.

Should Canada improve how it verifies the reciprocity of standards when certain products arrive at our borders?

[Nancy Hamzawi]

We're always working on those standards. We can always improve them. For example, when we prepare for international events here in Canada, we have to make sure that we have the best standards in the world, that they're in place and that they're enforced.

[Andréanne Larouche, Bloc, Shefford, QC]

What percentage of PHAC's budget is dedicated specifically to addressing antimicrobial resistance?

[Nancy Hamzawi]

Thank you very much for the question.

I don't have the exact number, but I can get back to the committee.

Our investments are made under the general direction of Dr. Crowcroft. There are links to a number of pillars, including infection prevention and control. That horizontal capacity supports us in the fight against a number of infectious diseases. There are direct and indirect costs, then, in ensuring that we have a strong response for Canada.

[Andréanne Larouche, Bloc, Shefford, QC]

Dr. Kaushic, witnesses in recent committee meetings have told us about the importance of supplying high-quality personal protective equipment.

For example, what could be the consequences on antimicrobial resistance if Canada sources from China and procures lower-quality equipment that's the result of forced labour?

Why is it important to properly monitor what we're looking for and pay attention to the quality of personal protective equipment?

[Charu Kaushic]

I think I'll defer this question to the Public Health Agency of Canada because CIHR is responsible for the research investments and directing the research. The procurement question would either be Health Canada or the Public Health Agency of Canada.

[Andréanne Larouche, Bloc, Shefford, QC]

I just wanted to get your perspective as a doctor.

In terms of research, what could we get—

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Dan Mazier]

Madame Larouche—

[Andréanne Larouche, Bloc, Shefford, QC]

If we're looking at countries and models—

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Dan Mazier]

It's all done. You had six minutes.

Thank you.

For the second round, we'll have Ms. Konanz for five minutes.

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

Thank you, Chair.

Ms. Hamzawi, the issue of the national strategic stockpile has been raised in this committee as an important element of antimicrobial resistance. Following up on an earlier question, I want to confirm that $20 million was lost in the 2024 national strategic stockpile.

[Nancy Hamzawi]

To be specific, in December 2024, there was a loss of pharmaceutical product totalling $20,436,373.

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

Thank you.

You have not replenished that, from what I understand from an earlier question.

[Nancy Hamzawi]

We have started the replenishment process. It is almost complete in terms of that particular product; it is mostly replenished. We expect it to be done by March 31 and we have other treatments for the same biological threat, so we have a whole suite of alternatives, as well as more than half replenished of this particular product.

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

If we already have it in stock, why would we replenish it again?

[Nancy Hamzawi]

As we make our determinations around the volumes of particular assets, that's on a risk basis. Our risk assessment is to complete that replenishment process to be ready for any potential threat.