Health

The House of Commons Standing Committee on Health met to study the 2025-26 Supplementary Estimates (B) and antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Appearing were Greg Orencsak (Deputy Minister, Health Canada), Nancy Hamzawi (President, Public Health Agency of Canada), Robert Ianiro (Vice-President, Policy and Programs Branch, Canadian Food Inspection Agency), Jeff Moore (Acting Executive Vice-President, Canadian Institutes of Health Research), Kendal Weber (Assistant Deputy Minister, Controlled Substances and Cannabis Branch, Health Canada), Dr. Natasha Crowcroft (Acting Chief Public Health Officer, Public Health Agency of Canada), Dr. Charu Kaushic (Scientific Director, Institute of Infection and Immunity, Canadian Institutes of Health Research), Stephen Bent (Vice-President, Regulatory, Operations and Emergency Management Branch, Public Health Agency of Canada), and Dhurata Ikonomi (Executive Director, Antimicrobial Resistance Task Force, Public Health Agency of Canada).

Greg Orencsak outlined Health Canada’s request for a net increase of over $1.6 billion, primarily to re-profile $1.6 billion in already committed funds for the Canadian Dental Care Plan to meet higher-than-forecast demand, which he said should stabilize in later years. He also noted a $100,000 transfer to support a national drug toxicity indicator harmonization pilot, and when asked about budget cuts, he stated that projected reductions do not affect health transfers to provinces and territories.

Nancy Hamzawi detailed PHAC’s request for $67.5 million, including $47.6 million for pandemic influenza vaccine preparedness through adjuvant procurement and a $16.9 million re-profile for the National Aboriginal Head Start Association. She addressed a $20.4 million loss of pharmaceutical product from the National Emergency Strategic Stockpile in December 2024 due to a temperature fluctuation, stating it was a single event, that Canada was not put at risk, that replenishment was nearly complete, and that corrective actions had been taken. She also noted that 10% cuts at PHAC were lower at the National Microbiology Laboratory at about 4%, with no significant impacts on activities.

Robert Ianiro presented the CFIA’s request for a net increase of $9.1 million, including $1.4 million for advancing interprovincial food trade and $7.7 million for plant protection and market access support, building on Budget 2025 investments of over $150 million for trade diversification.

Jeff Moore outlined CIHR’s request for a $3.4 million increase, comprising transfers from other departments for research on school food programs, indigenous youth services, female athlete health, and francophone community health, emphasizing collaboration for impact.

Kendal Weber confirmed that Health Canada provides funding to community organizations for harm reduction supplies, including pipes, to reduce infectious disease transmission, and that decisions on specific purchases are made by provinces, territories, municipalities, and Indigenous organizations. She stated that no request has been received to extend British Columbia’s decriminalization pilot program, and she agreed to table information on funding for abstinence-based programs and for British Columbia.

Dr. Natasha Crowcroft explained that harm reduction reduces transmission of infectious diseases and antimicrobial-resistant organisms by providing clean settings and equipment, and that it saves lives during the toxic drug crisis. She also noted that PHAC funds information campaigns to combat vaccine misinformation and works with health care providers as trusted messengers.

Dr. Charu Kaushic reported that CIHR has invested approximately $96.3 million in AMR research over five years, supporting initiatives such as a clinical trial on bloodstream infections and training for next-generation experts, and is leading a national One Health AMR research strategy. She stated that research funding has been largely protected from budget cuts.

Stephen Bent noted that the National Emergency Strategic Stockpile loss did not put Canadians at risk and that replenishment continues, and he said that while most stockpile respirators, masks, and gowns are now Canadian-made, gloves originate from China and Malaysia, with a buy-Canada strategy evolving.

Dhurata Ikonomi described PHAC’s coordination of the pan-Canadian Action Plan on AMR, including governance with federal-provincial-territorial and interdepartmental committees, and highlighted the recent launch of an AMR surveillance strategy to include environmental data and expansion of surveillance into long-term care homes.

The committee adopted a motion to elect MP Corey Tochor as acting chair. A motion was moved by MP Doug Eyolfson to invite the Minister of Health and department officials to testify by February 6, 2026, and a separate motion was moved by MP Burton Bailey to invite the Public Health Agency of Canada to testify on the $20 million stockpile loss, with one hour public and one hour in camera, by February 10, 2026.