Question Period Notes
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Ottawa dragging its feet on marine corridor, says Quebec [TVA nouvelles]
Summary of the Government of Canada's investments and achievements in support of French in the Atlantic Region since the launch of the Action Plan for Official Languages.
International Climate Change Leadership
Public Accounts 2018-2019
On July 31, 2019, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced that the HHS and the Food and Drug Administration would propose a rule to allow for the bulk importation of Canadian drugs through pilot projects by public and private pharmacies and wholesalers. The Food and Drug Administration is expected to publish a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in January. Final regulations can be expected by spring 2020.
• What is the Government doing to ensure that the possible bulk importation of drugs by the U.S. does not disrupt the supply of drugs to Canadians?
A new Food Guide, including new healthy eating recommendations and supporting resources for Canadians, was launched on January 22, 2019.
• Was the best available evidence considered in the development of the new Food Guide
The issue of forced and coerced sterilization of Indigenous women in Canada has received significant national and international media attention since Fall 2015.
There are currently six litigation cases alleging the sterilization, without proper or informed consent, of Indigenous women between 1948 and the present. The Government of Canada is a defendant in four of these actions, with Health Canada specifically named in two.
On December 7, 2018, the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights’ Committee Against Torture officially recognized that sterilizing Indigenous women without consent is a form of torture, and called on Canada to “ensure that all allegations of forced or coerced sterilization are impartially investigated, that the persons responsible are held accountable and that adequate redress is provided to the victims.” Canada has accepted the recommendations of the Committee and the Public Health Agency of Canada is coordinating the response, on behalf of Canada and the provinces and territories, for December 2019.
During the last Parliament, the House of Commons Standing Committee on Health and the Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights convened panels of experts who spoke on the forced sterilization of women in Canada. On August 2, 2019, prior to the dissolution of Parliament, the Chair of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Health wrote a letter to the Ministers of Health, Indigenous Services and Public Safety outlining the committee’s recommendations to address the issue of forced or coerced sterilization of Indigenous women.
• What is the Government doing to address this issue?
During the 2019 election campaign, the NDP committed to providing free dental care for households making under $70,000 starting in 2020.
• Will the Government support the NDP’s plan for dental care for low income Canadians?
Recent media articles have reported that drug shortages in Canada are worsening, highlighting current shortages of cancer drugs, and concerns voiced by healthcare professionals and patients unable to access supply.
What action is Health Canada taking to address drug shortages?
The media and stakeholders have raised concerns regarding caffeinated energy drinks (CEDs). In October 2019, the Radio-Canada weekly TV series Enquête aired a program focusing on the risks associated with the consumption of these products, particularly among children, teens, and individuals with pre-existing cardiac health conditions. A segment of the program discussed the deaths of 15-year old Brian Shepherd (2008) and 21-year old Zachary Mitchell (2016). Shortly after the program aired, the Quebec Minister of Health announced that the province is considering banning the sale of CEDs to individuals under the age of 16 years old.
• What is the Government of Canada doing to protect children and teens from the risks associated with caffeinated energy drinks?