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.
• 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.
• Following the authorization of the Zonnic nicotine pouches, there have been serious concerns raised around the availability, use and advertising of the product.
• The Department received correspondence from several health organizations, Canadian Chief Medical Officers of Health, and citizens requesting to take immediate actions to mitigate youth access and appeal.
• This issue has also been the subject of sustained media attention.
• What is the Government doing to establish a national breast implant registry?
• In 2018, the Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care (Task Force) updated its guideline on screening for breast cancer in women aged 40-74, who are not at increased risk for breast cancer. Since this guideline’s publication, some advocacy groups, including medical imaging professionals and researchers, have publicly contested various aspects of the guideline.
• The Task Force announced in June 2023 that it was undertaking an expedited update of the 2018 guideline. Due to the complexity and amount of evidence being assessed, a publication date of spring 2024 is being targeted.
• On April 30, 2024, the United States Preventive Services Task Force issued the final version of their recommendation on breast cancer screening, which includes lowering the age of screening initiation from 50 to 40. It is anticipated that the release of this final guideline will generate stakeholder and media interest.
• Overview of federal action on key Canada Health Act compliance issues.
• Since its coming into force on October 17, 2018, the Cannabis Act has created a strict legal framework for controlling the production, distribution, sale and possession of cannabis across Canada.
• The legislation is designed to keep cannabis out of the hands of youth and profits out of the pockets of organized crime by fostering a robust legal and regulated industry.
• Access to children’s health services across the continuum of care remains an issue in Canada, including lengthy backlogs for essential services such as surgical, diagnostic, mental health, and children’s rehabilitation.
• The Standing Committee on Health released a report on May 6, 2024, entitled Fostering Healthy Childhoods: A Foundation for Resilient Generations. Among other recommendations, the report calls for a national pediatric health care workforce strategy, the establishment of a national child and youth commissioner, and a national pediatric health data strategy.
• The Government of Canada is working to build resiliency to the impacts of climate change on health and the health system.
• Diabetes is a serious chronic disease, and one of the most common chronic diseases affecting people in Canada. Diabetes poses many challenges for those living with the disease, their families, and communities, and has various implications for health systems. It is a major cause of blindness, kidney failure, heart attack, stroke and lower limb amputation.
• Health product shortages pose a risk to the health of Canadians. Recent shortages of over-the-counter analgesics, antibiotics, and prescription diabetes drugs are a concrete illustration of the impact shortages can have on healthcare, people in Canada and their loved ones.
• Health Canada is working on medium- and longer-term policy options to improve access to health products in Canada. To develop these options, the department has consulted with provinces and territories, supply chain players, patient groups, Indigenous groups, and the healthcare community. A public online consultation was also held in the summer of 2023.
• A report of what we heard during the consultations has been published. Health Canada is using the feedback from the consultations to design tools and approaches that will be adopted by the Government of Canada to enhance health product supply chain resilience.