INDU Committee Meeting
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Minutes of Proceedings
James Cumming moved, — That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology commence a study on the emergency situation involving the domestic manufacturing capacity for a COVID-19 vaccine;
That this study examine the May 12, 2020, announcement by the Government of Canada regarding $44-million to refit a National Research Council facility in Montreal for the purposes of the production of a vaccine in collaboration with CanSino Biologics, and review and examine all related issues, including:
(a) the investment of $44-million into the facility and the necessary upgrades to space, technology, equipment and personnel that would need to be made as a result,
(b) the potential impact of this initial announcement on the government’s plans to procure other vaccines,
(c) the facility’s prior capacity to manufacture vaccines, including past delivery orders and schedules, and
(d) the dissolution of the announced partnership between the National Research Council and CanSino Biologics on August 26, 2020, and its impact on the planned upgrades to the facility; and
That, in order to fully study this emergency situation, the Committee invite the Minister of Health, the Minister of Public Services and Procurement, the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, and the President of the Public Health Agency of Canada, each to appear separately before the committee for at least three hours, provided that :
(a) in respect of each of the ministers who does not agree, within one week of the adoption of this motion, to accept this invitation for the length of time prescribed, the Chair shall be instructed to report to the House forthwith a recommendation that this committee be empowered to order his or her appearance from time to time, and
(b) in respect of the President of the Public Health Agency of Canada, if he does not agree, within one week of the adoption of this motion, to accept this invitation for the length of time prescribed, a summons do issue for his appearance before the Committee at a date and time determined by the Chair but no later than three weeks following the adoption of this motion.
Helena Jaczek moved, — That the motion be amended by adding after the words “upgrades to the facility; and” the following: “(e) the evolution of Canada’s domestic vaccine manufacturing capacity.”.
Debate arose thereon.
Nathaniel Erskine-Smith moved, — That the amendment be amended by adding after the words “capacity” the following: “and the steps Canada can and should take to address it”.
After debate, the question was put on the subamendment of Nathaniel Erskine-Smith and it was agreed to.
After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Helena Jaczek, as amended, and it was agreed to.
Ali Ehsassi moved, — That the motion be amended by replacing the words “separately before the committee for at least three hours” with the words “before the committee for one and a half hours”.
After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Ali Ehsassi and it was agreed to.
After debate, the question was put on the motion, as amended, and it was agreed to.
The motion, as amended, read as follows:
That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology commence a study on the emergency situation involving the domestic manufacturing capacity for a COVID-19 vaccine;
That this study examine the May 12, 2020, announcement by the Government of Canada regarding $44-million to refit a National Research Council facility in Montreal for the purposes of the production of a vaccine in collaboration with CanSino Biologics, and review and examine all related issues, including:
(a) the investment of $44-million into the facility and the necessary upgrades to space, technology, equipment and personnel that would need to be made as a result,
(b) the potential impact of this initial announcement on the government’s plans to procure other vaccines,
(c) the facility’s prior capacity to manufacture vaccines, including past delivery orders and schedules, and
(d) the dissolution of the announced partnership between the National Research Council and CanSino Biologics on August 26, 2020, and its impact on the planned upgrades to the facility; and
(e) the evolution of Canada’s domestic vaccine manufacturing capacity and the steps Canada can and should take to address it.
That, in order to fully study this emergency situation, the Committee invite the Minister of Health, the Minister of Public Services and Procurement, the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, and the President of the Public Health Agency of Canada, each to appear before the committee for one and a half hours, provided that :
(a) in respect of each of the ministers who does not agree, within one week of the adoption of this motion, to accept this invitation for the length of time prescribed, the Chair shall be instructed to report to the House forthwith a recommendation that this committee be empowered to order his or her appearance from time to time, and
(b) in respect of the President of the Public Health Agency of Canada, if he does not agree, within one week of the adoption of this motion, to accept this invitation for the length of time prescribed, a summons do issue for his appearance before the Committee at a date and time determined by the Chair but no later than three weeks following the adoption of this motion.
At 12:08 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.