Question Period Notes
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Between April and June 2023, Health Canada consulted Canadians on a policy update regarding its proposed approach to restricting the advertising of foods to children (known as M2K). The policy will form the basis of draft regulations that will be published in Spring 2024 for public consultation (CGI). The proposed restrictions are more targeted than what was proposed in 2018 and will apply to TV and digital media only. Generally, the Department received support to restrict advertising of certain foods to children, but views on mechanism and scope remain polarized. Health stakeholders are supportive of federal action but are critical that other sources of exposure will not be restricted as they have long advocated for broad restrictions (e.g., packaging, brand advertising, restaurants and other physical settings). Industry is critical of the government advancing regulations as they recently introduced their updated self-regulatory advertising code with advertisers expected to comply as of June 28, 2023.
There has been significant stakeholder concern related to recent initiatives to strengthen the regulation of natural health products (NHPs).
The NHP industry has been very vocal about its opposition and has launched campaigns to gain consumer and political support. The leading opposition party is a supporter of the campaigns.
The recent Health Canada initiatives aim to improve the safety of NHPs available to Canadians.
The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) manages the National Emergency Strategic Stockpile (NESS) which supports provinces and territories as a surge capacity when their own resources are insufficient. The NESS continuously works with provincial and territorial governments to assess the ongoing needs for priority medical assets to proactively identify and mitigate gaps as required.
Through an Intergovernmental Negotiating Body (INB), Member States of the World Health Organization (WHO) are developing a new WHO instrument (i.e., a convention, treaty, accord, agreement or other international instrument) on pandemic prevention, preparedness, response and recovery.
In general, pesticides are toxic chemicals intentionally released into the environment to control pests, including in agriculture and forestry, in homes and workplaces, and in industrial processes. They can also include personal insect repellents, wood preservatives, pool sanitizers and products to control invasive species.
There are more than 8000 registered pesticide products in Canada.
Pesticides are stringently regulated in Canada to ensure they pose minimal risk to human health and the environment. Under authority of the Pest Control Products Act (PCPA), Health Canada:
o registers pesticides after a science-based evaluation that ensures any risks are acceptable;
o re-evaluates the pesticides currently on the market on a 15-year cycle to ensure the products meet current scientific standards; and
o promotes, monitors and enforces compliance with the PCPA.
In 2021, the Federal Government announced a $42 million investment in Health Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) to further strengthen pesticide monitoring and protection of human health and the environment and increase transparency.
On June 20, 2023, the Government of Canada announced additional concrete actions towards a more sustainable approach to pesticide management. The announcement included various measures intended to protect biodiversity while making sure that Canadian farmers have the pest management tools they need to respond to growing demands for healthy and affordable food to Canadians and abroad.
The Government has committed to implement national universal pharmacare, including a Canadian Drug Agency, a national formulary, a national strategy for drugs for rare diseases, and a Canada Pharmacare bill.
The Patented Medicine Prices Review Board (PMPRB) is an independent quasi-judicial body that protects the interests of Canadian consumers by ensuring that the prices of patented medicines sold in Canada are not excessive.
While far too many Canadians are still struggling to secure timely access to family health service, whether from a doctor, nurse, or team of providers, this issue disproportionality impacts those living in rural communities.
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government of Canada procured and distributed millions of rapid tests to support rapid testing programs across the country with the aim to limit the spread of the virus.
Health Canada (HC) built substantial federal reserves of rapid tests in the event of a future potential resurgence and, given diminishing demand, is now donating the excess tests to fulfil domestic and international demand and minimize the risk of tests going unused prior to their expiration.
The pandemic disproportionately affected Canadians living in long-term care homes. Canadians are concerned about the availability of safe, high-quality long-term care services.