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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Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Canada has engaged with international partners bilaterally and multilaterally, through the G7, the G20, the World Health Organization (WHO), and the Pan American Health Organization to help inform our domestic response and to contribute to global efforts on fighting COVID-19.
Omicron (B.1.1.529), the newly designated COVID-19 variant of concern, has been detected in Canada.
Dementia is a set of symptoms affecting brain function. It is often characterized by changes in memory, mood, judgement and other cognitive functions. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form. In 2017–2018, almost 452,000 Canadians aged 65 and older were living with diagnosed dementia. This number is expected to increase with Canada’s growing and aging population.
Diabetes is a chronic disease that occurs when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin or when the body cannot effectively use the insulin it produces. Uncontrolled or undiagnosed diabetes can lead to serious complications and premature death. Those who have diabetes can take steps to control the disease and lower the risk of complications. Canadians living with diabetes may be at greater risk of severe COVID-19 outcomes.
The Office of the Auditor General is tabling the Audit of Enforcement of Quarantine and COVID-19 Testing Orders report on December 9, 2021.
The emotional stress, isolation, and economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic create additional risks for the safety and wellbeing of vulnerable children and families. Family violence, including all forms of intimate partner violence, accounts for roughly 40% of violent crime reported to police.
In the fall of 2020, the Minister of Health announced an independent review of the Public Health Agency of Canada’s Global Public Health Intelligence Network (GPHIN). The final report was published on July 12, 2021. In addition, the Auditor General’s Report 8 – Pandemic Preparedness, Surveillance, and Border Control Measures was released in March 2021, and includes a recommendation relating to GPHIN.
The Government of Canada has endorsed global targets that aim to end the AIDS and viral hepatitis epidemics and reduce the health impacts of sexually transmitted infections by 2030. Community-based organizations and researchers have called on the Government of Canada to increase funding to address HIV and other sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections (STBBI) in Canada. National stakeholders are increasing calls for additional funding and it is anticipated that their calls will be amplified around upcoming public events.
LGBTQ2 (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Two-Spirited) populations in Canada experience inequalities across a range of social and economic conditions that support health. Many of these inequalities are the result of stigma and discrimination, which create barriers to accessing material and social resources (e.g. employment, housing, social support) as well as access to health and social services. LGBTQ2 populations have been disproportionately affected by COVID-19 as the crisis has compounded existing social, health, and mental health inequalities.
The typical duration of acute COVID-19 illness is two to six weeks. However, some patients have described debilitating symptoms persisting or recurring for weeks or months after acute illness.