Evidence of meeting #11 for Transport, Infrastructure and Communities in the 43rd Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was testing.
A recording is available from Parliament.
5:55 p.m.
Global Business Development Director, New Markets, LuminUltra Technologies Ltd.
Yes, Mr. Soroka, there is plenty of data on this.
One example of this is one of the cruise ships that was held in Japan for some time. Post the evacuation of the ship, after 17 or 18 days, the residents' material was there and it was on multiple types of surfaces, whether it was steel, plastic.... However, the substrate does affect the length of the dwell time. Plastics tend to hold the viral material longer.
5:55 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Vance Badawey
Thank you, Mr. Taylor.
Thank you, Mr. Soroka.
We're now going to move to the Liberal Party.
Mr. Rogers, the floor is yours for five minutes.
December 10th, 2020 / 5:55 p.m.
Liberal
Churence Rogers Liberal Bonavista—Burin—Trinity, NL
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Welcome to our guests.
Mr. Taylor, first of all, with your vast knowledge and experience in the area of testing technology, I want to ask you a question.
It's my understanding that the federal government distributed millions of rapid tests across the country, but the provinces have been reluctant to actually use them. I'm wondering if you could give me some insight into why that might be the case.
5:55 p.m.
Global Business Development Director, New Markets, LuminUltra Technologies Ltd.
I can answer that quite simply, Mr. Rogers.
LuminUltra is not a policy-maker. We don't advise on policy. We develop the most accurate test of its type with the PCR program. The decision on that is firmly with the policy-makers, not with the manufacturer.
5:55 p.m.
Liberal
Churence Rogers Liberal Bonavista—Burin—Trinity, NL
Thank you very much.
Dr. Bogoch, do you have an opinion or comment on that?
5:55 p.m.
Physician and Scientist, Toronto General Hospital and University of Toronto, As an Individual
I honestly think the medical and health care professionals are our own worst enemies. I sit on some of these committees and we hear some of the debates about how and where we should use this. From a medical standpoint, we have to be extremely careful. From a public health standpoint, of course you still need to be careful, but there's a little bit more wiggle room in how you can use these tools. You can certainly set up protocols to use them.
Unfortunately, I think we're perhaps treating a screening tool more as a diagnostic tool. The question we're answering with these is: “Is the person at risk of transmitting the infection?” not “Is this person infected?” It sounds similar, but it's actually quite a different question.
We have ourselves to blame for a lot of this.
5:55 p.m.
Liberal
Churence Rogers Liberal Bonavista—Burin—Trinity, NL
Dr. Chagla, I've heard from many people in the airline industry that we should be using rapid testing to get people back in the aircraft. Do you have a comment?
5:55 p.m.
Assistant Professor, Division of Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, McMaster University
I agree. There's a creativity issue, unfortunately. I think there's a risk tolerance issue in the medical community for not using these tests. Again, people are not getting tested as appropriately as possible. We're seeing people quarantine, going through that devastation of having to stay in the house for 14 days and not being able to isolate properly.
There are so many good use cases for these tests. The federal government bought them for people to be creative and use them. Unfortunately, the medical community and the microbiology community have been a bit more hesitant.
Dr. Bogoch and I have talked about this at length a number of times in terms of our own personal stance. Certainly they have a role. In Calgary, they're used for getting people out of quarantine, and we're getting the data for that. If it's looks successful and that use case is good, that's a great scenario to use them.
5:55 p.m.
Liberal
Churence Rogers Liberal Bonavista—Burin—Trinity, NL
Thank you very much.
Mr. Chair, I have one final question.
The Atlantic bubble has been a unique approach we've used here in Atlantic Canada, which of course has been really positive for helping to keep the numbers down and for controlling the spread of the virus. However, it has a significant impact on the airline industry, which has cancelled many of the routes in Atlantic Canada. It's also has had a major impact on the tourism industry.
I'm wondering if any of you could provide your thoughts on this bubble and whether it's been successful and the biggest challenges faced. There are lessons from this, of course, that we could take to Canada or internationally. I just want to get your take on it.
5:55 p.m.
Physician and Scientist, Toronto General Hospital and University of Toronto, As an Individual
Really quickly, congratulations. I think it was largely successful. I appreciate there have been some hiccups; however, with good leadership and good public health, the Atlantic bubble has essentially been able to harness its demographic and geographic advantage.
I think it would be extremely hard to replicate that in other parts of the country. I could list off 20 reasons why. It's not impossible; it's just much harder. It's easier to do in the Atlantic bubble.
I'll give credit where credit is due. It worked very well.
6 p.m.
Liberal
6 p.m.
Assistant Professor, Division of Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, McMaster University
Again, I echo everything Dr. Bogoch has said. Both of us have talked extensively about the Atlantic bubble and what's worked and what hasn't.
There are downstream effects, as you say, such as the tourism industry's importance on other people's livelihoods. However, at the end of it, the Atlantic bubble had a geographic advantage over the rest of Canada. It was exploited and it was the right approach. It took a lot of leadership. I think much of the country is envious that it worked that well.
Good for you for that.
6 p.m.
Liberal
Churence Rogers Liberal Bonavista—Burin—Trinity, NL
Thank you very much. I appreciate your comments.
6 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Vance Badawey
Thank you, Mr. Rogers.
I want to take this opportunity to thank Dr. Bogoch, Dr. Chagla, Mr. Taylor and all members.
It was a very good meeting with a lot of great questions and a lot of great information. Hopefully for those who are watching, a lot of insight was given, as well as a lot learned.
This is our last meeting before we enter the holiday season. Tonight is the beginning of Hanukkah. Before we adjourn, I want to wish all those celebrating Hanukkah a happy Hanukkah, those celebrating Christmas a merry Christmas, and of course to all a happy holiday.
To all of you, although sometimes politically we see different ways and have different ideals and different manners, we're still all Canadians, and being Canadian we still have Canadian values. Of course those values attribute themselves to good people, good friends, good neighbours. I always say politics is secondary. Our being friends and fellow Canadians is primary.
With that, I wish all of you a very happy holiday with your families, a safe holiday. By all means get some rest and get a breather. It's been a long haul since we came back in September. I very much look forward to seeing all of you when we return in the latter part of January. To all of you, have a great holiday. We look forward to seeing each other in a few weeks.
The meeting is adjourned.