Health Committee on Feb. 5th, 2026

Evidence of meeting #20 for Health in the 45th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was seconds.

A video is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

Subject Matter of Clauses 400 to 456 (Division 25) of Bill C-15, An Act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on November 4, 2025

Members speaking

Hedy Fry

Dan Mazier

Helena Jaczek

Maxime Blanchette-Joncas

Before the committee

Marjorie Michel Minister of Health

Curtis-Micallef Deputy Minister, Department of Health

Hamzawi President, Public Health Agency of Canada

Voisin Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, Health Policy Branch, Department of Health

Weber Assistant Deputy Minister, Controlled Substances and Cannabis Branch, Department of Health

Crowcroft Acting Chief Public Health Officer, Public Health Agency of Canada

Hébert President, Canadian Institutes for Health Research

Barton Director General, Centre for Biosecurity, Regional Operations and Emergency Management Branch, Public Health Agency of Canada

Higgs Acting Assistant Deputy Minister and Chief Financial Officer, Department of Health

Aung-Thin Assistant Deputy Minister, Health Products and Food Branch, Department of Health

February 5th, 2026 / 5:30 p.m.

Assistant Deputy Minister, Controlled Substances and Cannabis Branch, Department of Health

Kendal Weber

They save hundreds of thousands of lives.

5:30 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry

Thank you very much.

Now, we have another three minutes, and I have some homework to do.

Before we go there, I would like to thank all of the witnesses for coming and giving us your insights and valuable information. Thank you very much.

As you leave, I will put forward a couple of housekeeping things to the committee.

First, today the clerk circulated a budget of $500 for the next meeting, on the national emergency strategic stockpile. Is everybody cool with that?

5:30 p.m.

An hon. member

Yes.

5:30 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry

Nobody is saying no.

I also want you to know that the deadline for the public to submit briefs for the study of antimicrobial resistance is on Tuesday, March 3. I'm just giving you the deadlines, guys.

Did somebody put their hand up.

I have Mr. Blanchette-Joncas.

5:30 p.m.

Bloc

Maxime Blanchette-Joncas Bloc Rimouski—La Matapédia, QC

Madam Chair, the date you mentioned is indeed March 3, is it not?

5:30 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry

Pardon me?

5:30 p.m.

Bloc

Maxime Blanchette-Joncas Bloc Rimouski—La Matapédia, QC

Is the date you mentioned March 3?

5:30 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry

It's March 3, 2026, yes.

5:30 p.m.

Bloc

Maxime Blanchette-Joncas Bloc Rimouski—La Matapédia, QC

Who decided that?

5:30 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry

Actually, it's at the pleasure of the committee to decide if you agree with it, but it will give the clerk adequate time to call witnesses. That's why.

5:35 p.m.

Bloc

Maxime Blanchette-Joncas Bloc Rimouski—La Matapédia, QC

My question is who suggested the date of March 3.

5:35 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry

The clerk and I work on these things to look at the timelines needed to call people and get people to come. Otherwise, we can have a meeting with one witness. That's it.

Is there anything else? I now—

5:35 p.m.

Bloc

Maxime Blanchette-Joncas Bloc Rimouski—La Matapédia, QC

Madam Chair, I would simply like to suggest the date of March 15.

5:35 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry

You would like to see it moved to March 15. Is that what you're suggesting?

5:35 p.m.

Bloc

Maxime Blanchette-Joncas Bloc Rimouski—La Matapédia, QC