Government Operations committee  Thank you, Mr. Chairman. It's a pleasure for me to be before your committee today. I want to first recognize the Government of Canada's quick motion on the development of programs during this unprecedented time of COVID-19. This pandemic has been devastating to those infected an

Government Operations committee  Yes, we have noticed a great deal of change. A number of organizations, private agencies and foundations, have indicated that they would not be able to continue to meet their research funding commitments. Others have asked for a pause, as they don't know what their fiscal positio

Government Operations committee  Yes. One of the founders, who is one of the scientific directors, Dr. Joe Fisher, is a member of the medical staff and a distinguished member and researcher at the University Health Network. Thornhill Medical was a spinoff, actually, of some of the research done some 25 years ago

Government Operations committee  We approached them and we sourced on behalf of the Province of Ontario. Ontario health actually requested the support of UHN's procurement division, because we were set up in a large enterprise to do so. We then worked closely with two ministries, the Ministry of Health and the M

Government Operations committee  Yes. Under one of my other hats, I was asked to lead the command table for critical care in Ontario during this pandemic. The premier and his colleagues had us convene with a number of large production facilities—large enterprises, particularly in auto manufacturing—about convert

Government Operations committee  I should be clear: It is not our product any longer. A spinoff from UHN, Thornhill Medical, has done so, as I understand it, with the purchasers. Also, there are a number of open source ventilators, for example, from a number of vendors. I'll speak to one that I know of, althoug

Government Operations committee  It has been very challenging. As we know, very few of the more common materials have continued to be made in North America, so we have attempted to source most of them internationally at the same time as the world is sourcing those materials. In working with the Government of Ca

Government Operations committee  Yes, I have had a chance, both through our elected officials and through the tri-councils and other research officials with the Government of Canada. A number of our investigators have already been fortunate to receive awards from the Government of Canada for COVID-related resear

Government Operations committee  Yes, there has been a very rapid response. I'll quote our in-house legal counsel, who said, “In all of my career, I have never seen things done more quickly on any issue between multiple levels of government and the private sector.” People have truly rolled up their sleeves and r

Government Operations committee  Yes, Mr. Chair. There are two quick issues. First, I would say, is the availability of supplies, which we'll crack the back of in the fullness of time. Second, I would say there is a divide sometimes between public health professionals and infectious disease specialists and epi

Government Operations committee  I'm sorry, I didn't hear the translation.

Government Operations committee  I'll ask Mr. Clerk if there's translation for that.

Government Operations committee  Ah, very good. Thank you, sir.

Government Operations committee  That would be helpful, yes, thank you.

Government Operations committee  When I look at some of the areas that have fallen through the cracks, particularly seniors care and congregate-living environments, I don't really like to always start with money. I recognize that money is the start tool, but over the last number of years what was once a fifty-fi