Question Period Notes
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• 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.
• Canada’s regulations of general application governing the sale of health products and food work well in most situations, however issues can arise that require tailored regulatory approaches.
• The proposed amendments to the Food and Drugs Act will enable timely, precise regulatory solutions to help mitigate issues such as product shortages, areas of unmet need or potential health risks or adverse effects.
• The proposed authorities would not displace the normal functioning of the Food and Drugs Act and its regulations, but rather provide the Minister of Health with complementary tools to achieve the right outcomes for people in Canada.
• 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.
• The Government of Canada built substantial federal reserves of rapid tests in the event of a potential resurgence and, given diminishing demand, has been divesting of the surplus tests to minimize volumes going unused prior to their expiration in 2024.
News outlets regularly feature product recalls in Canada, including for products regulated by Health Canada.
• 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.
• There are key barriers and challenges related to access to sexual and reproductive health (SRH) information and services, including abortion, in Canada. Accurate SRH information and culturally safe and relevant SRH services, particularly for marginalized populations, is lacking across Canada.
• Cigarette smoking is the leading cause of preventable disease and premature death, killing approximately 46,000 people in Canada each year. The Government has an ambitious target to reduce tobacco use to less than five percent by 2035.
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• The overdose crisis is one of the most significant public health challenges Canada has faced in decades. This crisis has led to increased calls from various stakeholders, including chiefs of police, medical officers of health, health organizations, and municipalities, to advocate for decriminalizing the personal possession of small amounts of controlled substances as a component of a comprehensive response to this issue. In May 2022, in response to a request of the province of British Columbia (B.C.) and as one part of the province’s comprehensive response to addressing the crisis, the former federal Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health, Dr. Carolyn Bennett, granted a three-year exemption under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA). This exemption ensures that adults 18 years of age and older in the province will not face criminal charges for personal possession of small amounts of certain illegal drugs, with a few exceptions applying to certain locations including schools, child care facilities, and in motor vehicles. This means that between January 31, 2023 and January 31, 2026, adults in B.C. found in possession of up to a cumulative 2.5 grams of certain illegal drugs for personal use, will not be arrested or charged with possession, or have their drugs seized. Instead, individuals will be provided with information on available services and, if requested, support in connecting with services.Based on feedback from key partners, including law enforcement, BC requested to prohibit possession at additional locations: playgrounds, splash pads, wading pools, skateparks. This amendment was granted in September 2023. BC also tabled legislation in October 2023 to regulate the use of drugs listed in the exemption in certain public spaces including those added to the exemption as well as broader locations including parks, beaches, and bus stops. This legislation is currently the subject of a court case in front of the BC Supreme Court.
• On April 26, 2024 the province of British Columbia submitted a second amendment request to expand the exceptions in the exemption to include all public spaces.
• On May 7, the federal government granted BC’s request to prohibit possession of controlled substances in public spaces. Exemptions will continue to apply in private residences, healthcare clinics as designated by the province of BC, places where people are lawfully sheltering, and overdose prevention and drug checking sites.
• A request for the personal possession of small amounts of illegal drugs from Toronto Public Health is under review.
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