Health

The House of Commons Standing Committee on Health (HESA) met on October 9, 2025, to study the mandate of the Minister of Health, the Honourable Marjorie Michel, who appeared alongside officials Greg Orencsak (Deputy Minister, Department of Health), Kendal Weber (Assistant Deputy Minister, Controlled Substances and Cannabis Branch, Department of Health), and Nancy Hamzawi (President, Public Health Agency of Canada).

Minister Michel outlined her priorities as improving access to care, modernizing regulations, and advancing digital health, noting that one-third of internationally educated health professionals work outside their field and that credential recognition and professional mobility will be a focus of her upcoming meeting with provincial and territorial counterparts. She highlighted the Canadian Dental Care Plan, stating over five million Canadians are enrolled, 2.8 million have received care, and 98% of dentists participate, saving patients an average of $800 per year. On supervised consumption sites, she said they are funded by provinces and territories, that fentanyl is the most commonly used drug at these sites, and that they have prevented 68,000 deaths, while applications are reviewed case by case with provincial and public safety consultations. She also described mental health as a crisis costing $65 billion annually and emphasized the need for collaboration on prevention and the integrated youth services model.

Deputy Minister Greg Orencsak addressed credential recognition, noting there are about 200,000 internationally educated health professionals in Canada and that immigration is a vital tool for health workforce shortages. On drug approvals, he said Health Canada is working with international partners, including through project Orbis for oncology drugs, to accelerate reviews, but that provinces ultimately decide which drugs to fund. Regarding the breast implant registry, he confirmed a committee of nine provinces and territories is participating but that it has the ability to seek expert advice; he could not say how many long-term independent studies were reviewed for Health Canada’s safety review. On nicotine pouches, he stated they remain available through pharmacies and that Health Canada will review oversight if evidence shows youth appeal is no longer a concern.

Assistant Deputy Minister Kendal Weber explained that supervised consumption site exemptions cover the use of controlled substances brought in by individuals, while harm reduction tools like clean needles and pipes are provided separately and are not part of the exemption. She confirmed that no other provinces have applied for a decriminalization exemption similar to British Columbia’s, and that the B.C. exemption expires at the end of January 2026 with no further amendment requests received. She noted that harm reduction supplies are designed to prevent infectious disease and overdose, and that their cost is borne by communities, municipalities, or provinces, not Health Canada.

Public Health Agency of Canada President Nancy Hamzawi addressed the vaccine injury support program, stating that as of June 1, 2025, 3,317 claims had been received, 1,227 had been reviewed by the medical review board, and 2,303 were pending, with an average processing time of 18 to 24 months. She confirmed that Oxaro continues to process claims while an audit is underway, and that the program is being moved into the agency with a target of April 2026. On breast cancer screening guidelines, she said the Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care working group has been put on hold and that the issue of screening for women in their 40s will be revisited when the group is reinstated. She also detailed diabetes programs, including $35 million in investments from budget 2021 for research, surveillance, and community initiatives.

During the meeting, members raised points of order regarding interpretation issues and speaking time, and the committee briefly debated whether witnesses should be allowed to complete answers after a member’s time expired.