I'd like to start by echoing the remarks of my co-chair. I am delighted to be with you today. It has truly been an honour to serve on the vaccine task force.
I have been struck by how much can get done in a relatively short period of time when you bring together the right people across government, academia and industry. I have often said that we are operating in battlefield conditions, making recommendations on urgent issues with very limited information.
Along with my role as co-chair of the vaccine task force, I chair a subcommittee on biomanufacturing. All members of the vaccine and therapeutics task forces are able to participate in joint biomanufacturing subcommittee meetings. We employ the same rigorous process on declaring interests and recusing ourselves if there is a conflict or the appearance of a material and direct conflict.
The joint biomanufacturing subcommittee was tasked with providing advice to the government in three areas. First, we were asked to assess biomanufacturing projects proposed to the government under the strategic innovation fund. Second, we were asked to develop an overall strategy to increase Canada's biomanufacturing capacity. Third, we advised the government on other biomanufacturing matters related to securing COVID vaccines and therapeutics for Canadians, including efforts to attract international vaccine candidates to manufacture some of their vaccines in Canada.
We began meeting on June 23 of last year and now the subcommittee has met 22 times, for a combined total of about 55 hours.
In recommending biomanufacturing proposals, we considered criteria such as demonstrable experience with manufacturing; production planning, readiness and flexibility; manufacturing facility readiness; solid management and project risk management capabilities; and the potential to contribute to developing Canada's vaccine R and D sector.
As with the domestic and international vaccine candidates, we also invited experts from outside of Canada to learn about the ways that other countries, particularly the U.S. and the U.K., have built capacity or plan to do so.
The joint biomanufacturing subcommittee identified early on that strengthening Canada's biomanufacturing capacity is a key element of our COVID-19 response. Our advice in this area has included recommendations on critical, immediate investments to respond to COVID-19, and on a series of medium- to longer-term measures that aim to protect the health of Canadians when faced with future pandemics, while also promoting economic growth.
We reviewed 21 domestic projects, which were for the most part biomanufacturing projects for either vaccines or therapeutics.
It's a pleasure to be with you today, and we look forward to answering your questions.