Thank you. That is put aside for now. I'm sure members will come back....
Mr. Genuis, I'm going to move on to another issue. This is done for now. You're welcome to bring it forward to another committee.
Again, I apologize to the witnesses, but I want to bring committee members up to speed on the COVID-19 contracts. This is a matter of business that is before us.
The committee received, from Public Services and Procurement Canada, two of the seven contracts on Thursday, April 13, 2023. They were from Johnson & Johnson and Medicago.
We have correspondence, which you've all received, from the assistant deputy minister of policy, planning and communications on behalf of Public Services and Procurement Canada on Thursday, April 13. This correspondence was distributed to members on Friday, April 14.
I won't summarize.... Actually, I will. The summary is as follows:
on behalf of Public Services and Procurement Canada...regarding the Committee's March 23...motion to request access to contracts entered into between the Government of Canada and manufacturers for COVID-19 vaccines.
Based on the measures taken by the Committee, through its motion, to limit public disclosure and safeguard the confidentiality of information, PSPC, following consultations completed with two companies, is providing [the] first tranche....
I'm just summarizing the letter.
The letter referenced the fact that we had taken steps to keep these documents confidential and the department would hopefully—there are no assurances—endeavour to deliver the remainder of the contracts this week: “a second and final tranche of documents in response to the motion.”
I, as chair, sent correspondence back to PSPC, requesting the documents without further delay. That was done on Friday, April 14.
I want to just raise this. We will not deal with any vote on this, because that will require a motion, but I want to get a sense of the room on this issue.
I'm going to turn first to Madame Sinclair-Desgagné, as the motion's sponsor, to address this question. I'll then turn to others if they have comments, and we can pick this up, as I'm sure a motion will be coming for Thursday.
Madame Sinclair-Desgagné, you have the floor, please.