Health Committee on Dec. 9th, 2025

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

There was $20 million. That's a huge amount and put us in jeopardy, at least for awhile. Could this happen again? You say you're monitoring it. Why couldn't this disaster happen again?

You say there was a freezer left unplugged. I'm not sure what happened but how could this happen?

[Nancy Hamzawi]

I'd be happy to get into more detail in an in camera setting to provide you the detailed information you need to make sure that you hold us accountable and that you can reassure Canadians to maintain trust with the Public Health Agency of Canada and us.

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

All right.

[Nancy Hamzawi]

I'm happy to clarify that, but there was not a freezer unplugged. Let's just be very clear.

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

The importance of the stockpile has been raised again. How much of the stockpile procurement has relied on non-Canadian manufacturing?

[Nancy Hamzawi]

As of December 2025, we continue to receive deliveries from around the world; however, the majority of our respirators, masks and gowns were produced in Canada. We also have long-term domestic contracts with 3M Canada, based in Ontario, to cover N95 respirators and with AMD Medicom to cover N95 respirators and medical masks.

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

I heard that much of the procurement came from China.

[Nancy Hamzawi]

There was procurement from China, particularly during the pandemic. At this time, in our stockpile, only the gloves originate in China and Malaysia.

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

How does the department resupply our national stockpile for evolving health risks? Are expired materials disposed of on a constant basis? Again, how do you keep up with it?

[Nancy Hamzawi]

We're pleased to provide that. This is just to note that the information is available publicly on the website.

[Nancy Hamzawi]

The comprehensive management plan for the national emergency strategic stockpile is online, and you will have that clarity around our procurement strategy and our life-cycle management, including our divestment strategies.

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

Good.

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

Thank you.

I have a quick question for Dr. Kaushic.

Is there a demographic or regional difference in antimicrobial resistance?

[Charu Kaushic]

Do you mean within Canada?

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

Yes. Would there be a difference for young, old, rural or urban?

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Dan Mazier]

You have 10 to 15 seconds, tops.

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

Could you table that answer? The chair is telling me there's not enough time for that answer, so if you could let the committee know....

[Charu Kaushic]

We can definitely get back to you about that.

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

Thank you very much.

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Dan Mazier]

Ms. Jaczek, the floor is yours for five minutes.

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

Thank you so much, Chair.

Thank you, witnesses, for your testimony.

Ms. Hamzawi, perhaps we'll start at the beginning with surveillance.

We've heard at both this committee and, as you probably know, the science and research committee, where they undertook a study of antimicrobial resistance, that there should be increased surveillance in community settings and in long-term care. I think Ms. Ikonomi referenced this.

I would like to first hear what kind of progress you are making with provinces and territories in terms of expanding surveillance across the country.

[Dhurata Ikonomi]

As I mentioned, when PCAP was developed, one of the key pillars was for us to strengthen surveillance. Particularly, one of the actions indicated in PCAP was for us to expand coverage on some of our surveillance systems and to look at other types of surveillance, extending our surveillance systems into long-term care homes, looking at better use of environmental data and looking at some of the linkages between the environment and the impact on health. Also, we've invested in CIPARS, which is our integrated surveillance system that looks at animal and human health.

In terms of the community settings, we have been looking at different data sources for increasing surveillance in the community setting. That's an area, though, that we are continuing to work on more as part of PCAP.

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

My question was, what progress are you making? Are there any provinces where in fact this data is collected that could be a model for others? It seems like everybody has identified the problem, but we're not really learning of any action. Could you be specific in terms of examples where this is improved? That would be helpful.

[Nancy Hamzawi]

Maybe I can start and then you can add on, Dhurata.

The Canadian nosocomial infection surveillance program, CNISP, recently—I think it was in November—officially launched the expansion of its scope beyond acute-care hospitals to address a significant knowledge gap in long-term care homes. That was one area.

There was also the launch of a pilot surveillance for symptomatic urinary tract infections. This is to explore the potential to monitor infections beyond hospital settings, ensuring a more comprehensive approach to infection prevention across the continuum of care.

The CNISP also demonstrated adaptability during the COVID pandemic by rapidly implementing surveillance for COVID-related infections. It continues to play a pivotal role in monitor emerging threats, such as drug-resistant fungal pathogens, reinforcing its importance in national preparedness and response.

I don't know if you want to add more to that.

[Dhurata Ikonomi]

I'll just add a couple—