Health Committee on Feb. 5th, 2026

[Paul Hébert]

In my view, the idea is that everything we do in this sector will make a huge difference to Canadians in every way.

In 15 seconds, I can't do much better than that.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

You still have 27 seconds left.

[Paul Hébert]

I would say that we need to put a lot of pieces together.

The first big piece is functioning with an all-of-Canada and all-of-government approach. In our government today, all of us have things we want done with data. The big thing we have to do is start working together to bring it together.

As we think through data infrastructure and data governance.... We have organizations to do that. Our compute in AI strategy and programs have to collectively work together to generate what I just said.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

Thank you very much.

I will now go to Monsieur Blanchette-Joncas for two and a half minutes.

[Maxime Blanchette-Joncas, Bloc, Rimouski—La Matapédia, QC]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

My question is directed to the deputy minister and concerns clauses 400 to 456 of Bill C‑15.

Is there an impact assessment specific to universities, hospitals and public research centres?

[Shalene Curtis-Micallef]

Which clause are you referring to?

[Maxime Blanchette-Joncas, Bloc, Rimouski—La Matapédia, QC]

I’d just like to inform you, Deputy Minister, that we’re studying clauses 400 to 456 of Bill C‑15 today.

[Shalene Curtis-Micallef]

I haven’t memorized the content of the clauses. The clause related to investments—

[Maxime Blanchette-Joncas, Bloc, Rimouski—La Matapédia, QC]

My question is this: Is there a specific impact assessment on universities, hospitals and public research centres?

[Shalene Curtis-Micallef]

We don’t have an assessment. I’ll give the floor to my colleague.

[Maxime Blanchette-Joncas, Bloc, Rimouski—La Matapédia, QC]

There’s no assessment, then. Okay.

[Kimby Barton]

Thank you for the question.

I think you're speaking to division 25, the amendments to the Human Pathogens and Toxins Act. Certainly, we have been conducting some consultation on the Consulting with Canadians site.

Part of the consultation has informed the approaches we put in the amendments. We are trying to target a risk-based approach, in which the most stringent requirements will be on the facilities that are working with the highest-risk products.

[Maxime Blanchette-Joncas, Bloc, Rimouski—La Matapédia, QC]

That means you are making significant amendments to the Human Pathogens and Toxins Act, but you don’t have an impact assessment on that.

[Kimby Barton]

No, it's not currently on the facilities themselves.

Many provisions that will have an impact on these facilities will come through regulations. As part of the regulatory consultations, we'll be conducting a cost-benefit analysis and further consultations with the facilities themselves.

[Maxime Blanchette-Joncas, Bloc, Rimouski—La Matapédia, QC]

Mr. Higgs, still in relation to clauses 400 to 456 of Bill C‑15 that we’re discussing, have you estimated the compliance costs public institutions will incur?

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

No, I would not have that information with me right now.

[Maxime Blanchette-Joncas, Bloc, Rimouski—La Matapédia, QC]

If I understand correctly, then, Deputy Minister, we’re currently assessing a bill for which no impact assessment has been conducted. We don’t know how much it will cost, but you want us to adopt this as legislators.

[Shalene Curtis-Micallef]

I will let my colleague speak on this matter.

[Maxime Blanchette-Joncas, Bloc, Rimouski—La Matapédia, QC]

That doesn’t reassure me.

[Shalene Curtis-Micallef]

Are you talking about the fact that we don’t have a cost assessment or the fact that we don’t have an assessment of the effects that the bill will have once it’s implemented?

[Maxime Blanchette-Joncas, Bloc, Rimouski—La Matapédia, QC]

Both. You want to amend a law, but you don’t know the consequences of doing so or how much it will cost. That’s what you’re telling me.

[Shalene Curtis-Micallef]

No, I wouldn’t say that we don't know the consequences. I think you want to know whether we’ve already done an assessment, but until the bill is passed and the implementation work has been done, there’s no assessment of its effects.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

Thank you, Deputy Minister.

We are now moving on. We're 19 seconds over.

I'm going to Mr. Strauss for five minutes.

[Matt Strauss, Conservative, Kitchener South—Hespeler, ON]

Thank you, Chair.

Ms. Weber, I have some big picture questions for you.

It's our understanding from news reports that over the last 20 years, there have been increasing overdose deaths in Canada due to what is called a “toxic drug problem”, or crisis. Where do the toxic drugs come from generally?

[Kendal Weber]

There are different sources. They can be domestically produced. They can also come across borders illegally.