International Trade Committee on Feb. 1st, 2021

[Mary Ng, Liberal, Markham—Thornhill, ON]

Thank you.

We have procured vaccines from Europe, but also from America. Of course, the vaccines that are due to arrive in Canada in Q1 are from the EU. The Prime Minister and the President of the U.S. did speak. In that conversation, the Prime Minister reiterated that Canada's supply chains and our interconnectedness between our two economies is absolutely critical.

He also reiterated that Canada and the United States will absolutely continue to work together, whether it be on COVID-19 or building back better, to tackle climate change and to create opportunities for Canadians and Americans alike by creating good middle-class jobs in Canada.

Today, I am pleased to answer your questions and to speak to the committee and Canadians about the efforts we are taking—and we are doing absolutely everything—to ensure that Canada's shipments of vaccines from the European Union are not delayed.

[Simon-Pierre Savard-Tremblay, Bloc, Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot, QC]

I know you're working on that and that the United States is our number one trading partner. Logically, it should also be our first health partner.

However, I'll come back to my question, which was more focused. There was a conversation between the two heads of state at the end of the previous week. Was this discussed? Mr. Biden announced a refusal to the Prime Minister of Canada on two issues that are dear to his heart. That's 0 for 2.

Has there been any discussion in these negotiations about requiring even temporary supply? When Europe can resume its shipments, it will be normal for the United States to give priority to its population according to the order they passed, and that is their business. But at least for this period of time, was there any discussion of that?

[Mary Ng, Liberal, Markham—Thornhill, ON]

Thank you very much to the honourable member for that question.

The Prime Minister's Office has made public his conversation with the President. I want to assure Canadian workers and businesses that we continue to be actively engaged with our American partners at all levels through the President and the Prime Minister, and also certainly through our ambassador to the United States. I'm looking forward to speaking to my counterpart once the confirmation process is completed in America.

We certainly remind the Americans that Canada is the top customer. We are the largest customer to some 32 states, larger than Japan or even China, so the relationship between Canada and the U.S. is absolutely critically important, and we are committed to working together with our American neighbours.

We have a new trade agreement through CUSMA, which enables the two countries to continue our work, providing very important access to that very important market for Canadian businesses, small businesses, women entrepreneurs and so on. This is very important and we continue to do that work with our American colleagues. I'm looking forward to continuing to work with the American administration in an effort to build back—in this economic recovery, but also during COVID-19—for Canadians.

[Simon-Pierre Savard-Tremblay, Bloc, Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot, QC]

I still think it's a shame. You spoke to us about the importance of having partners and how much you were looking forward to working with the new U.S. administration. We are very happy to hear that. However, I've asked you the same question twice. Unfortunately, you didn't give me an answer. So I'm going to venture to ask it again. I'll even phrase it a little differently.

Is it likely, yes or no, that we will benefit from a special supply from the United States during the weeks when Europe will not be providing any vaccine?

[Mary Ng, Liberal, Markham—Thornhill, ON]

I want to assure the honourable member that we are expecting six million doses of vaccines from Moderna and from Pfizer. This will enable three million Canadians to be vaccinated by the end of the first quarter, with many more vaccines coming.

We have secured—

[Simon-Pierre Savard-Tremblay, Bloc, Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot, QC]

Madam Minister, how many doses are we talking about for this week and last week?

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

I'm sorry but your time is up, Mr. Savard-Tremblay.

[Simon-Pierre Savard-Tremblay, Bloc, Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot, QC]

You've been "saved by the bell", as they say.

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

Maybe we can get back to you when you have your next round of questions.

We will move on to Mr. Blaikie for six minutes.

Go ahead, please.

[Daniel Blaikie, NDP, Elmwood—Transcona, MB]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Madam Minister, for being here at committee today.

The new European measures allow governments in countries where the vaccine is being produced to review the export plans of the drug companies for exporting the vaccine in the case that European supply would be jeopardized, and to ban the export of those drugs to the other countries, except those that are exempt from that potential ban.

Would you say that the verbal reassurances you've received from European officials offer a greater or lesser degree of protection than being on the exemption list would?

[Mary Ng, Liberal, Markham—Thornhill, ON]

I would point out that countries like Australia, the U.K. and the U.S. were also not included, but I am reassured by my colleague in the European Union as well as my colleague in Belgium. I will continue to do work with other member states as will our team.

This work is absolutely top priority, so we must continue to do this work to make sure that this mechanism does not affect the shipments of vaccines to Canada.

[Daniel Blaikie, NDP, Elmwood—Transcona, MB]

Would that ongoing work be required if Canada were on the exemption list, or would you be satisfied if we were on the list that our supply was protected?

[Mary Ng, Liberal, Markham—Thornhill, ON]

I think work that has anything to do with respect to COVID-19—and certainly anything to do with business supports and certainly with respect to vaccines, which we know are so important to Canadians and to the health of Canadians—we would continue to put absolute priority on just as we always have.

[Daniel Blaikie, NDP, Elmwood—Transcona, MB]

Am I hearing that you're indifferent to whether Canada is on the exemption list or not? Did you ask, at any time, for Canada to be on that exemption list?

[Mary Ng, Liberal, Markham—Thornhill, ON]

It's absolutely my top priority to do everything we possibly can to ensure that the advance purchase agreements, those contracts that Canada has negotiated, are respected; that the doses of vaccines and the shipments of vaccines come to Canada without delay; and that this is not impacted by this mechanism. It is absolutely my priority, absolutely with tremendous seriousness, and it is a whole-of-government approach, including the team we have on the ground that is working at all levels.

[Daniel Blaikie, NDP, Elmwood—Transcona, MB]

If the European Union were to offer tomorrow to put Canada on the exemption list, would you accept?

[Mary Ng, Liberal, Markham—Thornhill, ON]

Of course I would welcome that. I would welcome anything that is going to—

[Daniel Blaikie, NDP, Elmwood—Transcona, MB]

It is a higher level of protection than the verbal reassurances that you've received so far, to be on that exemption list. That would be a value-added proposition for Canada to get on that list. Do you agree with that?

[Mary Ng, Liberal, Markham—Thornhill, ON]

To make sure that we continue to have the assurance that Canadians get these vaccines without delay or interruption is going to be and continues to be my absolute top priority. I will work at everything to ensure that work continues with that level of urgency that we have applied and we will continue to apply.

[Daniel Blaikie, NDP, Elmwood—Transcona, MB]

Given the special relationship your government has touted between Canada and Europe—in fact, you mentioned it earlier in your opening remarks—given CETA, did you ask for an explanation as to why Canada wasn't included on that list of exempt countries?

[Mary Ng, Liberal, Markham—Thornhill, ON]

What I did right from the very beginning, upon learning that this mechanism was going to be introduced, was I reached out to my colleague and was very clear about Canada's expectation that our contracts be respected and that there would be no delay or interruption to our vaccines coming to Canada. This work, of course, this assurance, was received by the Prime Minister directly from the president, and we're going to keep doing this work as we need to.

I do have to give a thank you and support—and I hope everyone will—to my officials who are on the ground and who are working around the clock to make sure they are in touch with their EU counterparts as well as member-state counterparts to both monitor and work with the companies to make sure that, for any obligations that are required, they're helping the companies to meet those obligations, so that we really do ensure there is no delay.

[Daniel Blaikie, NDP, Elmwood—Transcona, MB]

Since the list of exempted countries was published, have you been in contact with anybody in the European Union to ask why Canada was not included on that list?

[Mary Ng, Liberal, Markham—Thornhill, ON]

I've spoken to Commissioner Dombrovskis and have been very clear with respect to Canada's expectations. As I've repeatedly said, we have received assurances that this measure will not affect Canada's vaccines.

[Daniel Blaikie, NDP, Elmwood—Transcona, MB]

I hear you on the assurances. I'm wondering if you've received an explanation for why Canada was not on the list and whether you found that explanation satisfactory.

[Mary Ng, Liberal, Markham—Thornhill, ON]

I would also point out that Canada as well as countries like Australia, the U.K. and the U.S. are also not on the list. The countries that are on the list.... I think Canada and the European Union would have steadfastly supported ensuring that least-developed countries continue to have access to vaccines and that they do not experience delays. It's why Canada has been participating in Covax and has been a consistent supporter of ensuring that the global community also has access to vaccines. I think everyone agrees—