Question Period Notes
About this information
In accordance with the Access to Information Act, the government proactively publishes the package of question period notes that were prepared by a government institution for the minister and that were in use on the last sitting day in June and December.
The question period notes may be partially or fully redacted in accordance with the legislation; for example, if the notes contain information related to national security or personal information. (Learn more about exemptions and exclusions.)
If you find a question period note of interest, you may make an access to information request in order to obtain it.
• Non-governmental organizations, members of Parliament and concerned Canadians have pressed Health Canada to ban cosmetic animal testing. Since April 2021, the Department has received more than 68,000 correspondence items about banning cosmetic animal testing in Canada.
• Vaccine use in children under 12 years of age.
• Health Canada is using agile regulatory processes to expedite the review of COVID 19 clinical trials for vaccines and treatments.
• In October 2016, Health Canada launched the multi-year Healthy Eating Strategy, which consists of a suite of initiatives that aim to improve the food environment and help make the healthier choice the easier choice for all Canadians.
• On April 22, 2021, the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development tabled an audit report of the Natural Health Products Program. Health Canada agrees with the findings and recommendations, and is committed to implementing measures to improve the oversight of natural health products and implement proactive risk-based compliance monitoring activities.
• Four COVID-19 vaccines are currently authorized by Health Canada and several others are under review.
• Throughout the pandemic, Health Canada has ensured that testing devices authorized for sale in Canada meet safety, effectiveness and quality requirements.
• The COVID-19 pandemic has created unprecedented challenges to Canada’s medical system, and there is a need for treatments to support the response.
• Trikafta, manufactured by Vertex Pharma, is the first triple combination therapy available to treat patients with the most common cystic fibrosis mutation. Following a Priority Review, Health Canada approved Trikafta on June 18, 2021, for the treatment of cystic fibrosis patients aged 12 and older. In July, Health Canada received a subsequent submission (a Supplemental New Drug Submission) that would expand the indication to include children aged 6 and older.
• The cost of Trikafta runs at over $300,000 annually. In September, some provincial governments announced that they would be funding Trikafta on their public drug plans for eligible patients.
• Health Canada has received many letters from patients and their supporters expressing their desire to have this drug made available in Canada, and media interest is high, particularly because of its use in the pediatric population.
• 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.