Health committee  To clarify, I'm here today as an official of Public Services and Procurement Canada. There are no negotiations currently being led by Public Services and Procurement Canada with respect to procurements. I cannot speak to the full government on that point.

Health committee  The question would be better referred to Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada.

Health committee  The Government of Canada is very careful to respect confidentiality agreements included in the contracts. The government has provided fully unredacted copies to the Standing Committee on Public Accounts as well as to the Auditor General to be inspected. Officials from Public Services and Procurement Canada appeared—

Health committee  Those were all provided with appropriate confidentiality agreements in place with those who were viewing those agreements. The information they received was maintained confidential. There was also a redacted copy of the seven advance purchase agreements provided to this committee earlier.

Health committee  The main goal of the Government of Canada was to secure safe and effective vaccines for Canadians as early as possible. The procurement strategy taken was all with that goal in mind. That is why there was a diverse portfolio of seven different vaccines pursued in order to get best chances.

Health committee  The advance purchase agreement with Medicago was awarded in November 2020, and there was a firm commitment for 20 million doses to be delivered by the end of December 2021, as well as optional additional doses of up to 56 million. The contract was later amended. Because the Health Canada authorization was received in February 2022, the contract was amended to change the delivery of the 20 million firm doses to the end of 2022.

Health committee  We are not currently in negotiations. The contract has been terminated.

Health committee  We at Public Services and Procurement Canada are not in negotiations.

Health committee  I don't think we can presume what decisions Medicago may or may not have taken. That is not ours to speak to. I can speak to the point of view of the Government of Canada, which was also conducting supply management activities, looking at all doses we received through the seven advance purchase agreements.

Health committee  The COVID-19 pandemic was an unprecedented situation.

Health committee  We could not anticipate what the WHO would decide, given the uncertainty around the world owing to the pandemic. It was never before seen. We were in completely new circumstances. We couldn't presume what the WHO would do.

Health committee  I can't answer that question today.

Health committee  The Government of Canada was aware, but the purchase agreement with Medicago was intended to purchase doses for Canadians in response to the pandemic. World Health Organization approval was not required for that purchase and for us to get doses delivered for use by Canadians.

Health committee  Early in the pandemic, there was intense global competition to secure vaccines. There were no approved vaccines worldwide, and countries were pursuing very aggressive procurement strategies to get doses as soon as possible. Because Canada didn't have strong domestic capacity, we didn't have a strong footing to procure vaccines.

Health committee  We were aware of the partial ownership by PMI.