Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague opposite for her work as opposition critic on the health file and for raising what is the most important issue facing our country at the moment; that is, procuring enough vaccines for all Canadians.
I would like to begin where my colleague opposite began, which is to point out that the domestic manufacturing of vaccines has hardly been a silver bullet for any country. We just need to ask Australia and look at the problems it is dealing with right now.
On the specific issue of the Moderna shipment that was delayed, if my information is correct, it was delayed by about 24 hours. We did receive 150,000 Moderna vaccines today. I would just like to make those two points right off the bat.
The issue my colleague opposite is raising more particularly is with respect to the European Union and where things are with the export restrictions. I am happy to provide some further details with respect to that.
The question of whether Canada has a written exemption is a bit misleading. The only countries in the world that have been put on an exemption lists are low-income countries. There is not a single high-income country on the planet that has received an exemption.
What we have received, as I stated several times in the House and I am happy to repeat it again, are consistent assurances have been received by the both the Prime Minister, from the President of the European Commission, as well as the Minister of International Trade, who received several very strong assurances from her counterparts in both countries in the EU from which we are receiving shipments of vaccines.
I would also point out that these are not just verbal assurances that people can set aside. The proof is really in the pudding. We have received all the export authorizations for which we have ever asked. They have been consistent and timely. Our shipments have not been delayed by these new export restrictions to date, and we have not had any issues in that regard. When there have been some small delays in receiving shipments, which is behind us we hope, they were on the side of the manufacturers because the companies had problems with production.
With the short amount of time I have left, I would like to say this. As much as I am deeply engaged with the file for vaccine procurement and know it is of concern to Canadians, I would point out that Canada is now number three among the G20 countries in total vaccination coverage and is number two among G20 countries in vaccinations per capita, per day, behind only the United States. The United States has indeed vaccinated more people than any other country in the entire world, and I know that is very impressive. Certainly it has had a very strong vaccination rollout campaign, but the reality is that even today the daily death rate in the United States is still three times higher than Canada on a per capita basis. Therefore, we also need to be very careful in our comparisons.
The Government of Canada has taken extraordinary measures to protect Canadians. Their health and security is the number one concern of this government. We are in the middle of a third wave at the moment, and that is obviously very concerning to all of us, so it is important to ensure we continue to focus on what really matters, which is Canadians.
I would like to ask my colleague opposite if she has changed her position since seeing the very disastrous effects of this third wave, and maybe regrets, in some way—