Question Period Notes
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• The COVID-19 pandemic has created unprecedented challenges to Canada’s healthcare system, and there is a need for treatments to support the response.
• Six COVID-19 vaccines are currently authorized by Health Canada and others are under review.
• Glyphosate is the most widely used pesticide globally. Health Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) published its final re-evaluation decision document for pesticides containing glyphosate, on April 28, 2017, allowing its continued use in Canada (marketed under brand names such as Roundup and Vision). Several Notices of Objection (NoOs) were filed at the time, and following a review of stakeholders’ concerns, the Department confirmed that issues raised in these NoOs were not scientifically supported.
• The decision not to strike a review panel was appealed to the Federal Court of Appeal (FCA) by some of the stakeholders that filed one of the original NoOs. On February 2, 2022, the FCA ruled that Health Canada’s PMRA must now reconsider striking a review panel. Health Canada is currently reconsidering the information provided in the NoOs.
• Concurrently, PMRA is also advancing on its Transformation Agenda that will strengthen its oversight and its protection of human health and the environment. The transformation process will ensure the pesticide review process meets the expectations of Canadians in the areas of transparency and sustainability.
• Pesticides are stringently regulated in Canada to ensure they pose minimal risk to human health and the environment. As part of the assessment process before a pesticide can be used on a food product, Health Canada scientists determine whether the pesticide residues that may be found in or on food will be a concern to human health, and determine the safe levels of residues, called Maximum Residue Limits, or MRLs.
• Health Canada sets science-based MRLs to ensure the food Canadians eat is safe. The MRLs for each pesticide-crop combination are set at levels well below the amount that could pose a health concern. If it is determined that a risk exists, the product will not be permitted for sale or use in Canada.
• During the summer of 2021, Health Canada received extensive comments during consultations for proposed changes to MRLs, in particular for proposals to raise the MRL for glyphosate on certain crops. Changes to glyphosate MRLs are paused as extensive consultation comments are reviewed.
• The Pest Control Products Act (2002) provides robust protection of human health and the environment. However, some provisions of the Act now warrant review to ensure the pesticide approval process meets the expectations of Canadians in the area of transparency and sustainability.
• In addition to the targeted review of the Pest Control Products Act announced on August 4, 2021, Health Canada has paused decisions on increases to all MRLs until at least spring 2022. Health Canada is currently reviewing the extensive comments received during MRL consultations in 2021. The announcement also included funding that will allow the creation of a new science advisory committee to provide advice, as appropriate, prior to evidence-based decisions on pesticides, including on MRLs.
• By June 30th, 2022, PMRA will complete broad public consultations on key ways to modernize and strengthen the Pest Control Products Act to ensure it supports transparency, use of independent scientific evidence and input to the decision-making process. The MRL process will benefit from these broad public consultations and resulting improvements to PMRA’s policies and practices.
• The Government of Canada has paused all proposed increases to Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs). MRL proposals will be published after Health Canada has completed reviewing the extensive comments received during MRL consultations in 2021.
• Health Canada’s MRL decisions, as for any other pesticide decisions, will remain science-based.
• On August 4th, 2021, the Federal Government announced that it would begin consulting on specific provisions of the Pest Control Products Act (PCPA) to consider ways to balance how pesticide review processes are initiated in Canada and increase transparency. In addition, the Federal Government announced a $50 million investment in Health Canada's Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC)'s pest management research, to be supported by Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC).
• This includes $42 million over three years to be invested in the PMRA to further strengthen its oversight and protection of human health and the environment. A further $7 million will be invested to AAFC, and $1 million to ECCC in supporting work, to accelerate the research, development and adoption of alternative pest management solutions.
• This investment supports Health Canada’s commitment set forth in the Prime Minister’s Mandate letter: To ensure Canadians are protected from risks associated with the use of pesticides and to better protect human health, wildlife and the environment, modernize and strengthen the Pest Control Products Act to ensure it supports transparency, use of independent scientific evidence and input to the decision-making process.
• Drug shortages are a global issue that directly affect the health and safety of Canadians. Canada is particularly vulnerable to shortages because of our small market share and heavy reliance on imports.
• On November 30, 2020, a rule came into effect in the U.S. allowing state-sponsored programs to import drugs intended for the Canadian market in bulk as a means to reduce the price of drugs for American consumers.
• The Canadian market is too small to supply the U.S. and Canadian markets. The rule has the potential to create supply disruptions.
• COVID-19 created an increased demand for drugs used in supporting patients with the disease, against the backdrop of multiple global supply chain challenges. Drug shortages, particularly in the context of COVID-19 critical drugs, could put the health of Canadians at risk.
• Working with provinces, territories and other partners, Health Canada established a COVID-19 Critical Drug Reserve to support patients with COVID-19.
• Drug shortages pose a risk to the health of Canadians. The COVID-19 pandemic further exposed vulnerabilities in the drug supply chain that impacted supplies of drugs required to treat patients with COVID-19 and other health conditions.
• The need for vigilance in maintaining the national drug supply continues. Health Canada is continuing its surveillance activities and engagement with provinces and territories, and key supply chain players to mitigate impacts and move towards prevention of drug shortages where possible.
• In New Brunswick (NB), Regulation 84-20 of the NB Medical Services Payment Act limits coverage of surgical abortion services to approved hospitals (three NB hospitals currently offer the service – two in Moncton and one in Bathurst). This means that individuals who receive these services at Clinic 554 in Fredericton are required to pay out-of-pocket. Patient charges for abortion services received in private clinics are considered user charges under the Canada Health Act. This regulation also poses concerns under the comprehensiveness and accessibility criteria of the Canada Health Act. Evidence indicates that some abortion clinics in Ontario (ON) are also charging patients to access insured services.
• Overview of federal action on key Canada Health Act compliance issues.