Question Period Notes
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7.2 million people in South Sudan continue to experience humanitarian crisis due to conflict and insecurity.
On April 30, 2019, Health Canada issued regulatory authorizations to Canadian Blood Services (CBS) and Héma-Québec (HQ) to change their blood donor deferral period for men who have sex with men (MSM) from one year to three months. This regulatory decision came as a result of proposals submitted by both CBS and HQ to Health Canada and was based on the latest scientific evidence. CBS and HQ implemented this policy on June 3, 2019.
In June 2016, the Government allocated $3.0 million for research to strengthen the evidence base supporting a non-discriminatory approach to blood donations. Results of several of these research projects have been published, while others are expected to be available between now and winter 2020 to inform potential future changes to blood donation policies.
To continue to support a safe and non-discriminatory approach to blood donation, Budget 2019 proposed to provide $2.4 million over three years, starting in 2019–20, for additional research specific to reducing barriers to the donation of blood plasma.
Canada’s blood system is internationally recognized for its high safety standards. It is, and will continue to be, one of the safest blood systems in the world.
• When will the government eliminate the blood donor deferral for gay men?
Food advertising to children is recognized as a major contributor to childhood obesity globally and in Canada. Health authorities and experts have called for comprehensive restrictions to reduce children’s exposure to, and the power of, food advertising. Since 2016, Health Canada has engaged extensively with stakeholders on policy options. A draft guide detailing a comprehensive, evidence-based proposal was distributed for stakeholder feedback in December 2018 and January 2019. Policy development is ongoing.
• What steps is the Government taking, including engaging with stakeholders, to restrict advertising of certain food and beverages to children?
Antimicrobial-resistant infections are becoming more frequent and increasingly difficult to treat. The antibiotics we rely on for common infections, such as pneumonia and strep throat, are becoming less effective, resulting in serious illness and death.
The Council of Canadian Academies released a report on November 12th, commissioned by the Public Health Agency of Canada, that describes the serious threat of antibiotic resistance. Already,1 in 4 bacterial infections are resistant to the first line of antibiotic treatment and last year approximately 5,400 Canadians died from a resistant infection. Projections of growth to 40 percent resistance by 2050 and 400,000 deaths are plausible according to these experts.
The Government of Canada has endorsed global targets that aim to end the AIDS and viral hepatitis epidemics and to 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.
Lyme disease continues to draw public, political and media attention with particular scrutiny on the number of human cases, risks, diagnosis and treatment in Canada.
There has been widespread measles activity in 2019 affecting many countries (notably, the United States, the United Kingdom, and France). The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that in the first quarter of 2019, the number of confirmed cases worldwide rose by 300%.
Measles is relatively rare in Canada due to effective vaccination programs. However, it is important that Canadians continue to be vaccinated against measles given the travel-related risks of infection and spread to unimmunized people.
The flu season in Canada usually runs from mid-November to mid-May. Each year in Canada, seasonal influenza leads to an estimated 12,200 hospital stays and 3,500 deaths. The flu shot, recommended for all Canadians six months of age and older, is the most effective way to prevent the flu and flu-related complications, such as pneumonia.
Seniors are the fastest growing age group in Canada. The Health Portfolio works with a wide range of partners on health promotion, disease prevention and research to support healthy aging as a public health priority.