Health Committee on April 30th, 2026

[Dan Mazier, Conservative, Riding Mountain, MB]

Dr. Reimer, you said in reference to vaccine implementation during the pandemic, “the science changes every single day, so we’re having to flip our approaches all the time.” I guess we all heard that, and we all lived through that. Does the same principle of changing science apply to supervised drug consumption sites and safe supply policy?

[Joss Reimer]

That's an excellent question, because it highlights the scientific method and the importance of always evolving our knowledge in regard to any topic.

[Dan Mazier, Conservative, Riding Mountain, MB]

It's a yes-or-no question. It's easy.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sukh Dhaliwal]

Honourable member, I have stopped the watch. Let's be respectful to her. Let her finish, even if you don't agree. Then I will start the watch when the turn comes to you.

Dr. Reimer, go ahead, please.

[Joss Reimer]

As you mentioned, MP, during the pandemic, the information was evolving very quickly, more quickly than we are typically used to in scientific advancements because of so much attention to that topic.

When it comes to other topics, like supervised consumption sites, I anticipate that we will continue to learn and evolve as the science evolves. That is something that we will always need to apply to our approaches.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sukh Dhaliwal]

Dr. Reimer, if you can, once a member raises a hand, quickly wrap up the answer. That will help me in managing the committee in a cordial manner.

I will start the watch, and we'll go to Mr. Mazier.

Please go ahead.

[Dan Mazier, Conservative, Riding Mountain, MB]

Thank you, Chair.

Are you aware of the new peer-reviewed evidence published in the journal Addiction showing that when supervised consumption sites shut down, there is no increase in mortality rates or ER visits and in fact this result in an increase in people accessing treatment services, yes or no?

[Joss Reimer]

There are multiple studies published every day on these topics, so I'm not aware of what specific study you are referencing.

[Dan Mazier, Conservative, Riding Mountain, MB]

Okay. Will you commit to reviewing the government's supervised drug consumption site policies?

[Joss Reimer]

Supervised consumption sites fall under the mandate of Health Canada. However, it's very important for me, as the chief public health officer, to be partnering with them, reviewing evidence and working alongside them in our response.

[Dan Mazier, Conservative, Riding Mountain, MB]

You referred to the opioid crisis as one of your mandates and one of your interests. So that you're aware of what you're walking into when you start reviewing the drug consumption site policies, I'll note that right now, Health Canada is advertising to minors. You can be 16 years old and up and walk into a drug consumption site and watch an adult consume illegal fentanyl. That is approved by Health Canada right now. There's also no ID required either.

If you could, look into those two requirements. I think you would agree that those definitely need to be looked at.

[Joss Reimer]

I look forward to reviewing the approaches of Health Canada alongside the approaches of all of the provinces and territories in the work that I take on as the chief public health officer.

[Dan Mazier, Conservative, Riding Mountain, MB]

In what situation is consuming illegal fentanyl safe?

[Joss Reimer]

As I mentioned, when it comes to substances, legal or illegal, there are risks associated with all of them. When we are working in hospitals and when we are working with illegal drugs, we are always trying to provide the best and safest options possible for people.

[Dan Mazier, Conservative, Riding Mountain, MB]

What would you tell a minor? What would you tell my child or my granddaughter? Would you say using illegal fentanyl is safe?

[Joss Reimer]

The toxic drug crisis is a complex issue, and supervised consumption is one area that we need to use in our response, but it goes together with prevention and treatment.

[Dan Mazier, Conservative, Riding Mountain, MB]

I honestly can't believe you can't answer that. Why can't you answer that question?

We all admit that fentanyl is a terrible drug. It's ravaged our streets. It's torn apart our communities. It's government policy that's enabling it and enabling these consumption sites. Actually, our health minister, who could do it with the stroke of a pen....

Why won't you admit that using fentanyl next to children is not good? It's not good for the Canadian public and it's not good for our families. Why won't you admit that?

[The Chair, Liberal, Sukh Dhaliwal]

Dr. Reimer, the time is up. You can give a short answer if you wish to. Otherwise, we'll move to the next speaker.

[Joss Reimer]

It is a complex issue, and I believe the answers require complex responses.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sukh Dhaliwal]

Thank you, Dr. Reimer.

Thank you, Mr. Mazier.

We will go to Ms. Chi for five minutes.

Please go ahead.

[Maggie Chi, Liberal, Don Valley North, ON]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Dr. Reimer, for coming in today to provide expert witness testimony and testify in front of the committee. Congratulations on your appointment.

Recently, the CMA commissioned a survey of Canadians, and it found that “43% of Canadians are highly susceptible to misinformation.” We've seen various trends online. It's quite concerning for any generation.

You have done a lot of work on this. You have a lot of expertise on this. I want to pick your brain on the types of strategies you believe are the most effective in countering misinformation, especially online misinformation.

[Joss Reimer]

There are very clear harms associated with misinformation and disinformation. The survey you're speaking about demonstrated some of the harms Canadians experience when it comes to misinformation and disinformation. It is something that I care a lot about and is one of the topics that I hope to bring into this mandate as a priority for the work that I do.

When it comes to responding to and mitigating misinformation and disinformation, it needs to happen at multiple levels at the same time. What I see as my specific role will be sharing transparent, evidence-based, easy-to-understand information with Canadians. However, it is equally important that the agency be supporting provinces, territories, municipalities, communities and indigenous groups so that they also have the tools and information they need to support their communities. That is as important as if not more important than the work I'll do at the national level because of the relationships and the specific knowledge they have about their own communities, the information they're being faced with and the needs they have.

[Maggie Chi, Liberal, Don Valley North, ON]

Thank you, Chair.

Thank you, Dr. Reimer.

I'll be sharing the remainder of my time with Dr. Hanley.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sukh Dhaliwal]

Dr. Hanley, please go ahead. You have three minutes.

[Brendan Hanley, Liberal, Yukon, YT]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Dr. Reimer. I want to add my congratulations on your appointment, particularly your being appointed as a public health physician.

I want to continue more or less on the same subject.

We're in a very challenging time of health information. We often see that political viewpoints and values may override the influence of expert opinion. We're even seeing that within this committee, for example. We're also seeing south of our border changes in leadership at the CDC. North Americans in general, but also Canadians, look to that leadership in health information.

In navigating this more difficult world where disinformation is a daily reality, how do you envision pulling in civic society? I see this as a real pan-societal effort, with your leadership and that of other health leaders enabling citizens to be able to distinguish good information from false information.