Health Committee on Oct. 9th, 2025

[Marjorie Michel, Liberal, Papineau, QC]

Exactly.

[Doug Eyolfson, Liberal, Winnipeg West, MB]

Thank you.

Are supervised consumption sites generally approved or requested in places where intravenous drug abuse is not already going on? Do the provinces request approval in areas where this is already happening, or do they request it in areas where this isn't going on at all?

[Marjorie Michel, Liberal, Papineau, QC]

I would say that it is really up to the province. It is the province that submits a proposal to us. We then have our own processes, which involve consulting organizations in the field and public safety and security officials. Sometimes, the exemption may not be granted if the consultation with the various stakeholders does not produce an acceptable outcome.

[Doug Eyolfson, Liberal, Winnipeg West, MB]

All right. Thank you.

I want to change gears a little bit. We talked about funding for mental health.

I work in the emergency department. Mental health plays a tremendous part in what we do in emergency. People come in with mental health crises. People with severe mental health issues also don't look after their other medical issues, and they often will not take their insulin if they're disorganized—these sorts of things.

In 2016, I know that the federal government attempted to give targeted funding to the provinces specifically for mental health. I know that a lot of provinces were resistant to this. They said that directing this funding was interfering with provincial and territorial jurisdiction.

What steps will you and your department take to get co-operation with the provinces, so that between you and the provinces we can increase the levels of support for mental health?

[Marjorie Michel, Liberal, Papineau, QC]

I believe that $25 billion was added to the latest health transfer agreements we signed with the provinces specifically to address mental health. The provinces therefore had additional money to combat mental health issues. We are working closely with them.

In fact, next week, at the meeting of federal, provincial and territorial health ministers, I will be meeting with my mental health counterparts to discuss how to improve the situation.

You mentioned emergency rooms. I can start by saying that, in my opinion, prevention and front-line work need to be strengthened. That's why one of my priorities is to work with the provinces to improve access to primary care, because that would prevent hospitals from becoming overwhelmed.

[Doug Eyolfson, Liberal, Winnipeg West, MB]

Thank you, Minister.

I believe that's my time.

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Dan Mazier]

That is true.

Mr. Thériault has the floor, for two and a half minutes.

[Luc Thériault, Bloc, Montcalm, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I would like to return to the report tabled by the Standing Committee on Health in 2023. Recommendation 10 suggested that the government fund research on breast implants to better understand their long-term effects on women's health.

Health Canada required companies to conduct research on long-term effects, but this research was shelved without Health Canada even responding or taking action.

In fact, two years after beginning the data analysis it was supposed to conduct on long-term effects, Allergan had lost track of 40% of the women participating in the study. Mentor, which was supposed to do the same, had lost track of 80% of the participants in its study after three years. Furthermore, no other studies on long-term effects were required by Health Canada. In addition, there is still no breast implant registry that would allow such studies to be conducted. It's like the chicken and the egg.

Health Canada is responsible for ensuring that breast implants are 100% safe. How can you look women in the eye and tell them with a clean conscience that Health Canada is fine with them getting implants when we don't know anything about the long-term effects because we don't have any data on it? That was your job. This problem has been around for 30 years, and it still hasn't been addressed. Aren't you ashamed?

[Marjorie Michel, Liberal, Papineau, QC]

The provincial and territorial committee will consider the issue you are talking about to get the data.

[Luc Thériault, Bloc, Montcalm, QC]

Health Canada must ensure the safety of high-risk medical devices, but the department does not know what it is doing. Why don't you apply the precautionary principle, since you have no studies on the long-term effects?

However, numerous studies around the world demonstrate the effects of these implants. For one, they cause cancer. There is even what is known as breast implant illness. If you need references for research conducted on this topic around the world, I can provide them.

Health Canada has been dragging its feet on this issue for 30 years. How can it be that we still haven't made any progress?

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Dan Mazier]

The time is up, unless you were looking for a response there.

[Marjorie Michel, Liberal, Papineau, QC]

I would just like to say to my colleague that Health Canada released a review of the safety of breast implants in 2024. I assume my colleague has seen it.

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Dan Mazier]

Thank you. We have to move on to the next one.

[Luc Thériault, Bloc, Montcalm, QC]

What were the findings?

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Dan Mazier]

Please table those conclusions.

[Marjorie Michel, Liberal, Papineau, QC]

We will submit this document to the committee.

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Dan Mazier]

Thank you.

Ms. Konanz, you have five minutes.

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

Minister, in your introduction, you mentioned that the drug addiction crisis had no clear solution, but I believe there are some things that you can do to help.

In 2023, British Columbia received an exemption from the Health Canada Act, under subsection 56(1) of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, for what we know of in B.C. and throughout the country as the decriminalization of drugs pilot program. Can you confirm that this exemption is still in effect, yes or no?

[Marjorie Michel, Liberal, Papineau, QC]

The British Columbia government did receive an exemption, and it is still in effect.

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

Okay. Thank you.

Do you have the ability to suspend it at any time, yes or no?

[Marjorie Michel, Liberal, Papineau, QC]

We are working closely with the British Columbia government to determine what the next steps will be.

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

You do have the ability.

[Marjorie Michel, Liberal, Papineau, QC]

By working with the province of British Columbia, we can collectively make a decision.

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

I'm sorry, just one moment.

You can't make the decision to end that right now, yes or no?

[Marjorie Michel, Liberal, Papineau, QC]

I work closely with British Columbia. As I just mentioned, health services are provided by the provinces, and I work with them.