Health Committee on April 30th, 2026

[Joss Reimer]

I would agree that this is a major issue that is impacting people as they try to make the best decisions they possibly can for themselves and for their loved ones. As a physician, I have personally had patients make decisions based on misinformation that caused them to turn down the life-saving or serious treatments and remedies they needed.

It's something I want to bring into this role, but I would agree with the premise that we need to make sure we are working at multiple levels. That includes working with people who are on the front lines—the health care providers—but also working with patient groups, religious organizations, community leadership and indigenous health experts.

There are many different groups we need to be partnering with as we try to fight against misinformation and disinformation, because we know there is an onslaught of that. We know with social media that we have little ability to control the algorithms and what people see when they go online, but we also know that trusted relationships with friends, family and community members can make a big difference.

I want to be part of sharing information at the national level, while also supporting leaders in their communities so they also have the information they need to support their communities.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sukh Dhaliwal]

Thank you very much, Dr. Hanley.

Now we will go to Mr. Blanchette-Joncas for two and a half minutes.

The floor is yours.

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

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Ms. Reimer, I want to revisit the pharmaceutical and life sciences sector task force and its makeup.

In your opening remarks, you said you were going to advance transparency and humility in your decision-making and approaches. I very much appreciate that. As you know, the government hasn't made public who will be on the task force. That information isn't available online. All we know is who the two co-chairs are.

The government hasn't released who will be on the task force or published that information online, so would you say the government is being transparent?

Parliamentarians had to ask the minister herself.

Again, I do not have the background on this committee. This is not something that falls under my mandate, but it is a question that I can take back to the agency to see what involvement it has had in the development of the committee.

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

Ms. Reimer, why do you think the government is hiding who will be on the pharmaceutical and life sciences sector task force?

[Joss Reimer]

Unfortunately, as I mentioned, I don't have the background regarding this specific committee, so this is something I would have to look into and come back on.

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

Do you understand that the Public Health Agency of Canada should have the opportunity to provide its assessment before the government decides who's going to sit on the task force?

[Joss Reimer]

It's critical that the Public Health Agency of Canada partner with all other parts of the government that deal with health-related issues. Whether they be on pharmaceuticals, with the CFIA or with Health Canada, these partnerships are important to the work we do. I look forward to those partnerships as I learn more about the role and about the agency, including this committee.

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

Thank you, Ms. Reimer.

I think it's also important for parliamentarians to be aware of the Public Health Agency's views and advice.

Mr. Chair, I am moving a motion so that the committee can obtain the agency's analyses and documents related to the makeup of the task force, as well as the information required for full transparency.

I move as follows:

That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(1)(a), the committee order the Government of Canada to provide, within 21 calendar days, the following documents, unredacted, in its possession or under its control: (1) All public health analyses, assessments or advice regarding the composition, mandate or work of the Pharmaceutical and Life Sciences Working Group; (2) All documents demonstrating the involvement, consultation or validation of the Public Health Agency of Canada in the composition, mandate or work of the Working Group; (3) All assessments of public health risks related to conflicts of interest, representativeness of the group, and the balance between industry interests, patients, independent experts, provinces and public health; (4) All internal or external correspondence related to these matters, including communications with the pharmaceutical industry, Health Canada and the Minister’s Office; (5) All documents demonstrating the participation of patients, independent public health experts, generic and biosimilar manufacturers, and provincial representatives, including Quebec; That these documents be deposited with the clerk of the committee, and that any confidential information be provided under seal to committee members, subject to personal information protections.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sukh Dhaliwal]

Thank you.

I have two speakers on the list. I have Madam Chi and then Dr. Eyolfson.

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

Thank you, Speaker.

Again, I thank my—

[The Chair, Liberal, Sukh Dhaliwal]

I'm the chair.

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

I'm sorry. Thank you, Mr. Chair. You look so honourable and great in your seat.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sukh Dhaliwal]

You're very kind.

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

I appreciate the honourable member bringing up the topic of pharmaceutical sovereignty, because we have had many good conversations about it member to member. He knows this is also a great interest of mine. I really appreciate his interest in the subject.

That being said, we are on the topic of asking Dr. Reimer questions in committee. Although the pharmaceutical sovereignty study has been delayed many times, I know a meeting is coming up, so we're happy to review the motion, which we haven't seen yet, and bring it up in a meeting at the appropriate time.

With that, I move to adjourn the debate.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sukh Dhaliwal]

We will take a vote to adjourn debate.

(Motion agreed to: yeas 6; nays 5)

We're going back to Mr. Blanchette-Joncas.

You have 13 seconds to finish.

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

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

This is proof yet again today that the government does not want to be transparent. This isn't the first or second time the debate has been adjourned. It's the third. The committee has the right to know who is influencing pharmaceutical policy and what role public health plays in that process.

I am very proud of this effort to demand accountability from the government, which of course does not want to co-operate. It has made that very clear again today.

Those who are following these proceedings, then—

[The Chair, Liberal, Sukh Dhaliwal]

Thank you very much, Mr. Blanchette-Joncas. You are 15 seconds over.

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

All right.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sukh Dhaliwal]

Thank you kindly. I appreciate it.

Now I'm going to the honourable Ms. Konanz for five minutes.

Please go ahead.

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

Thank you, Chair.

Dr. Reimer, you were quoted by the CBC in April 2019 as saying about drug consumption sites, “It certainly reduces risks of overdose, [and] connects people to the system”. We've heard a lot that these consumption sites exist within a continuum of care, but these sites, I'm sure you know—

[Dan Mazier, Conservative, Riding Mountain, MB]

On a point of order, the camera just came over to Ms. Konanz. I wonder if she could start again from the top.

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

Thank you for noticing that.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sukh Dhaliwal]

Wait just a minute. Let me reset my watch.

Madam Konanz, are you ready?

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

Yes. Thank you, Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sukh Dhaliwal]

Okay. We'll restart from the top.

Go ahead, please.