Mr. Speaker, with regard to part (a), since the start of the pandemic, the Public Health Agency of Canada, PHAC, has conducted several reviews and assessments of its emergency response activities, including linkages with key emergency management plans. During this time, these plans have provided a useful framework for establishing key governance and operational structures to drive response activities in accordance with internationally recognized best practices.
The collective learning from Canada’s experience with the COVID-19 pandemic is informing PHAC’s preparedness planning for future pandemic or epidemic events together with a broad range of federal, provincial, territorial, FPT, and indigenous partners and multiple multisector partners, building on all key components of the public health response to COVID-19 including strengthening surveillance, wastewater monitoring and detection of infectious diseases; improving early monitoring and warning processes; updating and testing our emergency plan; securing and distributing vaccines, therapeutics, and other equipment; enhancing public health risk communications and trust building among people living in Canada; and developing evidence-informed public health guidance.
The Office of the Auditor General, OAG, published four reports concerning COVID-19 performance audits related to pandemic planning, health surveillance, early warning of public health threats, border measures, strategic stockpile and procurement support of vaccines. Further information concerning the AG’s report findings can be found at the following link: https://www.oag-bvg.gc.ca. Further information concerning PHAC’s management response action plans to address the various OAG report recommendations can be found at the following link: Audit reports - Canada.ca.
PHAC’s work and other forward-looking pandemic preparedness work is already under way as part of several PHAC management response action plans in response to OAG audits related to COVID19.
For example, PHAC is already working with provincial and territorial, PT, partners to build on information sharing, management, and technology improvements; PHAC has established a new centre for integrated risk assessment; PHAC has established a new centre for data management, innovation and analytics; PHAC has restructured its border and travel health program to better respond to the changing pandemic and increase its focus on compliance; PHAC continues to work with FPT partners and vaccine manufacturers to manage its supply of COVID19 vaccines, make surplus vaccine doses available to other countries for donation, and prepare for potential pandemic influenza vaccine readiness; and PHAC continues to support and improve vaccine information data sharing among FPT health authorities and indigenous partners, health care professionals and vaccine manufacturers.
Drawing from lessons learned, PHAC will continue to support the health and well-being of Canadians and prepare for future pandemic or epidemic events.
We know how important it is to take stock of what we’ve learned through this pandemic, to prepare for future health emergencies. We can always do more, that’s why our government has committed to a COVID response review in the future. In the meantime, we will keep working with provinces and territories to improve our health care system and keep Canadians healthy and safe.
With regard to part (b), since January 1, 2020, PHAC has led or contributed to 21 emergency preparedness exercise activities. This includes 15 discussion-based exercises such as seminars, workshops or tabletop exercises, and six operations-based exercises such as drills, command post or full-scale exercises.
Exercise activities included various partners internal to the health portfolio, other federal departments and provincial, territorial and/or municipal partners as required for the designated subject matter and scenarios. The exercises aimed to meet targeted objectives developed for each individual activity, testing relevant plans and processes involved in the emergency response. In addition, the exercises highlighted best practices, gaps and opportunities for improvement moving forward.
In processing parliamentary returns, the government applies the principles set out in the Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act. The requested information in part (b) concerning emergency preparedness exercises and simulations is considered to be protected information, therefore the specific details have been withheld due to confidential business information.