Procedure and House Affairs Committee on Nov. 5th, 2020

[Omar Alghabra, Liberal, Mississauga Centre, ON]

Thank you.

Dr. Russell, go ahead.

[Dr. Jennifer Russell]

I echo what Dr. Shahab says. That is very true.

The only other thing.... This is an evolving situation. We do keep learning new things and we do keep having newer technologies available to us. We've recently started to do testing for essential workers every several days. If we were looking to add anything to consider, we could perhaps add testing the next time we have an election, depending on how things have evolved with that.

Again, because the risks keep changing and the evidence, research and technology keep changing, we'll take advantage of these to make things as safe as possible.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ruby Sahota]

Thank you, Dr. Russell.

Mr. Lukiwski, you have five minutes, please.

[Tom Lukiwski, Conservative, Moose Jaw—Lake Centre—Lanigan, SK]

Thank you very much.

First, let me say to all of the doctors present, thank you so much, on behalf of all Canadians, for the work you've been doing. It's been extraordinary in these very trying times.

Dr. Shahab and Dr. Werker, as a Saskatchewanian, I'm very proud every time I see you on the screen talking to Saskatchewan residents about the health protocols that you are encouraging them to follow. It's been extremely helpful and extremely necessary. Once again, thank you.

My questions will be primarily for Dr. Shahab and Dr. Werker.

Dr. Shahab, you talked about the liaison committee that was established, which met monthly starting in June. The committee consisted of Dr. Boda from Elections Saskatchewan, you, Dr. Werker and the House leaders of the two main political parties. During those meetings, I suppose you offered advice as to health protocols that you would encourage the two main political parties to adhere to during the upcoming campaign.

I'm curious as to why some of the other Saskatchewan political parties were not involved. I understand that the call of Dr. Boda was the one that everyone listened to. In other words, he was the one who formalized this committee and invited representatives from the two major political parties. But there were five political parties campaigning in Saskatchewan, including the Greens, the Liberals and the new Buffalo Party. In fact, the Buffalo Party, which is an extension of the Wexit Party—now called the Maverick Party, a western separation political entity—actually finished second in four of the Saskatchewan ridings.

I am curious, Dr. Shahab, to know whether you felt confident that the advice you were giving to the two main political parties was being transmitted to some of the other, lesser-known political entities in Saskatchewan.

[Dr. Saqib Shahab]

Thank you. I think that's an important question.

The chief electoral officer convened that table, not me. From my side, if they had asked all political parties to come to the table, I would not have had any concerns. I agree that this was an important table to forecast what we would see, what we were seeing, and to address any issues of concern.

[Tom Lukiwski, Conservative, Moose Jaw—Lake Centre—Lanigan, SK]

To recap.... I'm trying to make sure I ring-fence this and get accurate information. Are you saying that you were satisfied that the information and advice you were giving to the two main political parties in Saskatchewan was also being transmitted through Elections Saskatchewan to the other three smaller political entities? Were you confident and satisfied that your advice was being trickled down, so that all political players would have access to the same advice?

[Dr. Saqib Shahab]

I would think that those discussions and other discussions would inform the protocol for conducting elections. So yes, I would say a lot of that advice was translated into both public health guidance for pre-election activities and also Elections Saskatchewan guidance for conduct of voting.

[Tom Lukiwski, Conservative, Moose Jaw—Lake Centre—Lanigan, SK]

I want to talk a little bit about public awareness campaigns. I asked this of Dr. Boda when he was here. He seemed to indicate that any public service announcements or awareness campaigns to assure Saskatchewan people of the safety of residents going out to vote in person should primarily be the responsibility of Saskatchewan Health.

Do you agree with that? If so, what plans did you implement, if any, or what plans would you envision in the future to try to encourage and educate residents of the province that there is safety in actually physically going out to vote at polls?

[Dr. Saqib Shahab]

I think in public health our advice is general but also sector-specific. While I would agree with Dr. Boda, I understand they also had specific advice on their website and through social media about how to vote safely, so it was complementary. If they had asked us to do it, there's a lot we could have done, but it was complementary and there was no duplication. The specific advice about safe voting was done by Elections Saskatchewan.

[Tom Lukiwski, Conservative, Moose Jaw—Lake Centre—Lanigan, SK]

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ruby Sahota]

Thank you, Mr. Lukiwski.

Next we have Dr. Duncan, please.

[Kirsty Duncan, Liberal, Etobicoke North, ON]

Good morning, everyone. Thank you for your expertise, your experience and everything you've been doing to keep Canadians healthy and safe. We are grateful.

I have limited time this morning, so I'm going to ask for short answers, often only a yes or no, if I may, please.

To Dr. Shahab, would you agree that other provinces are in a second wave of COVID-19, yes or no, please?

[Dr. Saqib Shahab]

Yes, some are.

[Kirsty Duncan, Liberal, Etobicoke North, ON]

Thank you.

Do you believe the recent increase in your province to be the first wave in your province, yes or no?

[Dr. Saqib Shahab]

Yes, and it was predictable because of people moving indoors.

[Kirsty Duncan, Liberal, Etobicoke North, ON]

Thank you.

Do you believe that you were in the first wave during the election, yes or no?

[Dr. Saqib Shahab]

No, the cases rose towards the end of the election and after the election.

[Kirsty Duncan, Liberal, Etobicoke North, ON]

Thank you so much.

During the election, did you have only localized outbreaks, yes or no, please?

[Dr. Saqib Shahab]

We had only localized outbreaks, yes.

[Kirsty Duncan, Liberal, Etobicoke North, ON]

Thank you very much.

During the election, what was the range of coronavirus cases that you had and what was the average number of new daily cases? Could that information be tabled with the committee, yes or no, please?

[Dr. Saqib Shahab]

Yes, it can be tabled with the committee.

[Kirsty Duncan, Liberal, Etobicoke North, ON]

Thank you so much.

Did you have outbreaks in long-term care during the election, yes or no, please?

[Dr. Saqib Shahab]

I'm not aware of specific outbreaks during the election.

[Kirsty Duncan, Liberal, Etobicoke North, ON]

Thank you.

I know we've talked a bit about this, but could you table the guidance for long-term care with this committee, please?

[Dr. Saqib Shahab]

Yes.