I will open this meeting.
Thank you, first of all, for your understanding, everyone. We just had a few votes in the House of Commons.
Welcome to meeting No. 54 of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Public Accounts.
Pursuant to Standing Order 108(3)(g), the committee is meeting today as part of its study of Report 9 of the Auditor General of Canada, entitled “COVID-19 Vaccines”, and the motion adopted on Thursday, March 9, 2023.
I will read the text of the motion adopted:
That the committee invite, at the earliest opportunity, the representatives of Moderna, Sanofi, Pfizer, Medicago, AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson and Novavax, and the Law Clerk and Parliamentary Counsel, in view of its study on Report 9, COVID-19 Vaccines, of the 2022 Reports 9 and 10 of the Auditor General of Canada.
As members are aware, the committee is currently debating the motion of MP Nathalie Sinclair-Desgagné, which I will not read, but you're all very familiar with it.
Just to bring members up to speed, AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson and Novavax declined the invitation to appear, but they did send letters to the committee that you have and can consider. You should have received from the clerk these letters in both official languages.
I would now like to welcome our witnesses.
Thank you very much for agreeing to appear today.
From Medicago Inc., we have Toshifumi Tada, president and chief executive officer, by video conference. From Moderna, Inc., we have Patricia Gauthier, president and general manager, Canada. From Pfizer Canada, we have Najah Sampson, president, and Fabien Paquette, vaccines lead, mRNA vaccines and antiviral portfolio, by video conference, and from Sanofi Canada, we have Jean-Pierre Baylet, general manager, vaccines.
Also with us today is Michel Bédard, who the interim law clerk and parliamentary counsel. He will not be making an opening statement today, but he is here should there be any questions.
Each of the witnesses will have five minutes for their opening remarks. We will start with Medicago, then go to Moderna, Pfizer Canada and Sanofi Canada.
Mr. Tada, you have the floor for five minutes, please.