Question Period Notes
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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.
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The Government has introduced Bill C-64: An Act respecting pharmacare (Pharmacare Act), which proposes the foundational principles for the first phase of national universal pharmacare in Canada.
On December 18, 2023, the Government of Canada announced its plan to advance with the establishment of Canada’s Drug Agency (CDA, the Agency), built from the Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health (CADTH) and in partnership with provinces and territories, featuring an investment of $89.5 million over five years, starting in 2024-25. The CDA will provide the dedicated leadership and coordination needed to modernize the Canadian pharmaceutical system, laying a strong foundation to support ongoing growth. CADTH officially launched as the CDA on May 1, 2024. The CDA is also featured in Bill C-64, an Act respecting pharmacare.
Government of Canada launch of the Canadian Dental Care Plan.
Many Canadians face challenges in accessing health care and mental health and substance use services. Budget 2023 outlined the federal government’s plan, “Working Together to Improve Health Care for Canadians” to provide close to $200 billion in additional funding over ten years to provinces and territories.
ArriveCAN was launched in April 2020 to support the digital submission of mandatory public health information required from travellers coming into Canada. ArriveCAN repeatedly evolved in lockstep with the Emergency Orders in Council implementing public health measures at the border to protect Canadians, limit importation and spread of COVID, limit pressures on the Canadian health care system and to eventually support resumption of commercial travel.
The Office of the Auditor General (OAG) tabled an audit report on February 12, 2024, which examined the management of procurement and expected deliverables of the ArriveCAN application with due regard for value for money. The OAG concluded that overall, the Canada Border Services Agency, the Public Health Agency of Canada, and Public Services and Procurement Canada repeatedly failed to follow good management practices in the contracting, development, and implementation of the ArriveCAN application. One recommendation implicated the Public Health Agency of Canada.