Food and Drugs Act  This includes the natural health products we use every day, such as vitamins, herbal medicines, sunscreen, toothpaste and hand sanitizer. I want to acknowledge the importance of natural health products. They are something that many of our constituents use for their own well-being. I have heard that from many of my constituents as well.

National Strategy to Reduce Food Waste and Combat Food Insecurity  As for waste itself, municipal regulations, not federal ones, govern the management of residual materials and certain food donation and sharing projects. Similarly, Quebec is responsible for enforcing environmental and sanitation laws. The federal government has a role to play in labelling in general and in food safety when it comes to importing or exporting. However, in the context of this broader issue of waste, Ottawa has no concrete role to play.

Foreign Affairs committee  In another example, in South Sudan, Islamic Relief is implementing a transformative multi-year program that seeks to promote gender equality, foster peace and develop resilient livelihoods. Through activities spanning from water and sanitation initiatives to community peace-building efforts and to livelihood inputs and mentorship, the program has yielded positive outcomes, with one rights holder or beneficiary expressing, “Due to peace, we can make progress in each sector or any corner within the community.”

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I've certainly been asked by isolated first nations communities that need funding about water systems, for example, given the high cost of water systems, and it occurs to me that with housing, you need a whole bunch of infrastructure before you can build housing. You need sanitation, water and electricity. I know there have been a lot of advances in recent years to have more sustainable housing using solar, wind, composting toilets and heavy insulation. If you look at the funding we give to first nations communities, are we adapting or considering new ways of building that use those kind of processes, rather than those from 1945, when you needed electrical poles, waterworks and sanitation systems?

Environment committee  In terms of water affordability, most Canadians do not spend more than 1% of their annual income on water and waste-water treatment. This is the same in Europe, where consumer spending on water and sanitation is less than 1% of the GDP in most member states. The same applies to industry. For example, when they apply for a licence to extract groundwater, industries pay an administrative fee that is not in any way related to the value of the groundwater.

Canada-China Relations committee  In the case of the Winnipeg lab documents, CSIS worked collaboratively with the panel of arbiters to maximize transparency through sanitization, including by summarizing certain redactions to provide unclassified information. This resulted in the publication of a greater amount of national security information than previously released.

Public Accounts committee  We had to secure, with the help of the Public Health Agency and PSPC, all of the PPE. We had to buy sanitization cabinets to allow the officers to steam-clean their tools, so it was lots of different—

Public Accounts committee  Our officers were definitely looking for reassurance and we provided that reassurance to the best of our ability. We provided it through PPE and, as I've said before, through sanitization cabinets, which weren't available at all ports of entry but are now a standard feature. We took health and safety very seriously and that was all managed by the internal task force.

Canada—Ukraine Relations  This includes $4 billion in military assistance, such as M777 Howitzers, Leopard 2 main battle tanks, armoured combat support vehicles, ammunition, high-resolution drone cameras, thermal clothing, body armour, fuel and more; $7.4 billion in financial support; $352.5 million in humanitarian assistance, including support for emergency health interventions, protection services and essentials such as shelter, water, sanitation and food; and $186 million in development assistance and funds for the Canada-International Finance Corporation's facility for resilient food systems. We will also contribute $198 million in security and stabilization assistance.

Canada—Ukraine Relations  There is over $22 million in humanitarian assistance to support trusted United Nations and Red Cross partners in delivering critical assistance, including emergency health interventions, protection services, shelter, water, sanitation and food, as well as the promotion of respect for international humanitarian law. There is also over $18 million in peace, security and stabilization assistance to support projects.

Business of Supply  moved: That, given that, (i) the situation in the Middle East is devastating to many Canadians, particularly those with friends and family members in the region, (ii) the death toll in Gaza has surpassed 30,000, with 70% of the victims women and children, (iii) the Hamas terrorist attacks on October 7, 2023, killed nearly 1,200 people and over 100 hostages remain in Hamas captivity, (iv) millions of residents of Gaza are displaced and at risk of starvation, death, and disease, and Gaza is currently the most dangerous place in the world to be a child, (v) the United Nations reports over 70 per cent of civilian infrastructure in Gaza, including homes, hospitals, schools, water and sanitation facilities, have been destroyed or severely damaged by Israeli military attacks, (vi) on January 26, 2024, the International Court of Justice ordered six provisional measures, including for Israel to refrain from acts under the Genocide convention, prevent and punish the direct and public incitement to genocide, and take immediate and effective measures to ensure the provision of humanitarian assistance to civilians in Gaza, (vii) Israelis are still at risk of attacks by Iran-backed terrorist groups including Hamas and Hezbollah, (viii) the forcible transfer and violent attacks on Palestinians in the West Bank have significantly increased in recent months, (ix) the casualties of the war on Gaza and the Hamas terrorist attack include Canadian citizens, (x) Canadian citizens remain trapped in Gaza, blocked from leaving, (xi) Jewish, Muslim, Arab, and Palestinian Canadians have reported an increase in hate-motivated attacks and racism since October, (xii) Palestinians and Israelis both deserve to live in peace, with full enjoyment of their human rights and democratic freedoms, the House call on the government to: (a) demand an immediate ceasefire and the release of all hostages; (b) suspend all trade in military goods and technology with Israel and increase efforts to stop the illegal trade of arms, including to Hamas; (c) immediately reinstate funding and ensure long-term continued funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), and support the independent investigation; (d) support the prosecution of all crimes and violations of international law committed in the region, and support the work of the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court; (e) demand unimpeded humanitarian access to Gaza; (f) ensure Canadians trapped in Gaza can reach safety in Canada and lift the arbitrary cap of 1,000 temporary resident visa applications; (g) ban extremist settlers from Canada, impose sanctions on Israeli officials who incite genocide, and maintain sanctions on Hamas leaders; (h) advocate for an end to the decades-long occupation of Palestinian territories and work toward a two-state solution; and (i) officially recognize the State of Palestine and maintain Canada’s recognition of Israel’s right to exist and to live in peace with its neighbours.

Environment committee  It holds the earth in place, preventing landslides and erosion. It keeps fresh water available and accessible for food production, sanitation and basic needs, and nature keeps our communities resilient. Nature-based solutions can help our towns and cities be more climate resilient and natural disaster-resilient, too. Do you know a healthy silver maple can absorb 220 litres of water per hour?

Environment committee  Over the past 60 years, high-income countries led by Canada and the U.S. have invested more than $25 billion U.S. of foreign aid in water, sanitation and hygiene projects abroad. Between 1990 and 2015, more than 2.6 billion people gained access to improved drinking water, perhaps the single most important contribution to rising global life expectancy, but WASH insecurity remains a huge issue, and now the United Nations sustainable development goals, goal number six, calls for clean water and sanitation for all.

Environment committee  In its voluntary national review, Canada set 17 sustainable development goals, only five of which are priority goals. Sustainable development goal 6, which pertains to clean water and sanitation, and goal 15, which pertains to terrestrial ecosystems, are not even among the priority goals. Are we not putting the horse before the cart?

Environment committee  Sandford, could you articulate for this committee and this study how essential the work is that Canada and the UN do together to ensure water security, safety, hygiene and sanitation for those less fortunate?