Rona Ambrose

[Health, November 20th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, I reiterate again that I am happy to offer the member a more in-depth briefing on the steps that have been taken not only by the Canadian government but also by international partners and a number of other bodies in the public health community to bring all of their influence to bear to ensure that this moves as quickly as possible.

Whereas clinical trials usually take five years, this is happening in a matter of months because of the coordination, domestically and internationally, to prove that this great invention by Canadian researchers and scientists is safe and effective and that we can get it out to those people who need it.

[Health, November 20th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, it was in fact the Chief Public Health Officer, Dr. Gregory Taylor, who said that he had no concerns about NewLink's efforts to commercialize the vaccine. He also answered the member's questions fully at committee.

I reiterate the commitment from not only the Public Health Agency of Canada but from the World Health Organization, from the U.S. Department of Defense at the Walter Reed institute, and from all of those in the international community and the private sector who are working to bring all of their influence to bear to support this Canadian vaccine, which we should all be proud of, to make sure that it gets to market safely and effectively.

[Health, November 19th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, as the member knows, we invest very heavily in aboriginal health on first nations, but also specifically in the area of maternal health. I am happy to look into her specific issue and get back to her.

[Health, November 17th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, I am very proud of our government's record, because since forming government, health transfers have actually increased by almost 60%. This now is record funding, which will reach $40 billion annually by the end of the decade.

We are obviously committed to increasing health transfers year after year after year.

[Health, November 17th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, that is in no way the advice that has been given to us by the Chief Public Health Officer or anyone in the public health community.

Canadians should be very proud that not only was it Canadians who developed this vaccine, but that we gave our stockpile to the World Health Organization.

Of course, as the member knows, there are now phase 1 clinical trials happening all over the world for this Ebola vaccine. We hope we are able to move it to phase 2 clinical trials and that the vaccine will be in the hands of health care workers soon.

[Health, November 17th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, all of us in Parliament and across Canada can be very proud that it was Canadian researchers and scientists at the Public Health Agency that developed this groundbreaking Ebola vaccine. In fact, we did donate our stockpile from the Public Health Agency, close to 1,000 vials, for humanitarian purposes. We gave it to the WHO. How that is used is up to the WHO.

[Health, November 6th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, of course I expect Health Canada to take all drug safety issues very seriously and we will not tolerate any drug safety risks. The member knows that when this information became available to Health Canada and it was able to see the technical reports and do its own analysis, we immediately moved to ban several companies that are situated in India. We will continue to do exactly that when we get any information like this.

[Health, October 28th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, I can reassure the member that I have now met with my provincial counterparts three times, most recently yesterday, to discuss their preparedness.

In terms of the motion, the member knows, as we email each other, that I am available every day in the House of Commons. I am willing to come to committee to answer questions. Dr. Taylor, our Chief Public Health Officer, has made himself available for briefings for any MP and he briefed all MPs before the House rose a couple of weeks ago. We will continue to make ourselves fully available to all members of Parliament.

[Health, October 21st, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate that the member recognizes the great work that has gone on over the past 10 years by Public Health Agency of Canada researchers and scientists to develop not only the treatments that he is mentioning but also the vaccine. I am happy to inform the member that, yes, we are pursuing all options to make sure that Canada can have a domestic supply. Of course, in doing that we will also look to Canadian companies.

[Health, October 21st, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, I can reassure the member that we have taken many steps and we have evaluated many options, including commercial options, options with the Department of National Defence and with the department of defence in the United States.

We do currently have an agreement with the U.S. with a commercial operator contractor that it uses called Phoenix Air. We appreciate the generosity and access to those planes, but they are very limited and we will not send any more medical personnel unless we have guaranteed medical evacuation.