Health  Madam Speaker, governments at all levels are working together to keep Canadians safe from COVID-19. As part of our response to the pandemic, we announced $19 billion for a safe restart agreement to help provinces and territories restart their economies safely while we continued to respond to COVID-19.

Health  Madam Speaker, from day one our government has been focused on supporting Canadians and jobs during this pandemic. We have provided more than eight out of every 10 dollars spent to fight COVID-19. Our government's total support for provinces and territories during this pandemic includes $322 billion in direct measures to fight the virus and help Canadians.

Health  Mr. Speaker, the opioid crisis is the most significant public health issue in Canada's recent history. Our hearts are with all of those who have lost a loved one. We have responded. We have invested over $425 million in emergency responses, restoring harm reduction, approving over 40 supervised consumption sites, cutting red tape and removing barriers to treatment.

Health  Mr. Speaker, I reject the premise of the question because we have already delivered over 5.5 million rapid tests, with over 2 million to Ontario, 1.3 million to Quebec, over 600,000 to B.C. and almost 600,000 to Alberta. We get that testing is one of the most important tools we have to respond to COVID-19, and our officials are working around the clock to review and approve new testing technologies all the time.

Health  Mr. Speaker, we are working hard to make sure that Canadians will be able to get a vaccine when the time comes. Work is already under way with the provinces and territories and the military to create a distribution plan so that Canadians can get vaccinated. Our approach has always been informed by science and evidence, and this is no different.

Persons with Disabilities  Madam Speaker, as members of the House well know, there are few issues as complex and as personal as medical assistance in dying. Medical assistance in dying forces us to reconcile many fundamental values: equality, respect for life and individual autonomy. We accept that reasonable people can disagree on the best way to achieve balance in respect of all the implicated interests and values.

Persons with Disabilities  Madam Speaker, I remain confident Bill C-7 is the right approach for Canada now. It would advance the interests of individual choice and autonomy in medical decision-making. If an individual determines for themselves that they are suffering intolerably and make a voluntary request for MAID as well as receive all the information they need to make an informed decision, including being offered alternative treatments and services, I believe we owe it to them to respect their decision.

Health  Madam Speaker, we know that holiday celebrations are going to be different this year. We are asking that folks check with their local public health officials before they make any plans. On rapid tests, I have some current numbers. Ontario has received over 2,076,000 rapid tests already and is starting to use them.

Business of Supply  Madam Chair, as this pandemic has unfolded in Canada, it has become clear the health consequences of the pandemic differ across populations. Those Canadians who were at greater risk of poor health before the pandemic are likely to be at greater risk of suffering its consequences.

Business of Supply  Madam Chair, I am pleased to rise virtually from my home this evening to speak about the actions taken by the government to address the broader consequences of COVID-19. This pandemic is the biggest public health crisis that we have experienced in our lifetime, and that is something with which most everybody in the House agrees.

Business of Supply  Mr. Chair, I have just one quick question for the minister. How many people have accessed the Wellness Together portal so far since its inception?

Business of Supply  Mr. Chair, the impact of COVID-19 on mental health continues to affect Canadians' stress and well-being, and individuals with pre-existing conditions have been the hardest hit. The pandemic has also exacerbated inequities in accessing mental health care, with many unable to access their regular sources of support.

Business of Supply  Mr. Chair, I am a big supporter of the Wellness Together portal. What about Canadians without Internet access? How does Wellness Together Canada support them?

Business of Supply  Mr. Chair, on that same topic, what about those grieving the loss of a loved one or a relationship, employment or other area of their life that has been impacted negatively by COVID-19? Could the minister tell us how the government will support them?

Business of Supply  Mr. Chair, I will start right away with my questions for the Minister of Health and I want to thank her for being here tonight. The COVID-19 pandemic is in its second wave and it continues to devastate individuals, families and communities. As part of the efforts to fight COVID-19, in July 2020, the Government of Canada announced the safe restart agreement funding of over $19 billion for provinces and territories, to help them safely restart their economies and make our country more resilient to possible future waves of COVID-19.