麻豆视频

The availability of COVID-19 vaccines across Canada was a big issue raised in Parliament this week by Battlefords-Lloydminster MP Rosemarie Falk.

Acting in her role as Opposition Seniors Critic, Falk grilled the government on the vaccine rollout and the drop in supplies of the Pfizer vaccine, during the debate on this issue in Parliament this week.

On Monday, she asked the Minister of Public Services and Procurement, Hon. Anita Anand, on when doses would be available. The exchange was recorded in Hansard.

Mrs. Rosemarie Falk (Battlefords鈥擫loydminster, CPC):聽

聽聽聽 Mr. Speaker, protecting our seniors and those who care for them must be a priority. An efficient and timely vaccine rollout for long-term care residents and staff is critical to preventing the deadly outbreaks that we are seeing across the country, but our premiers are now reporting that they have run out of vaccines.

聽聽聽 With a drop in supply and with uncertainty about the schedule moving forward, strong federal leadership is needed, but once again the Prime Minister is missing in action. When will sufficient doses be available to protect our seniors in long-term care?

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Hon. Anita Anand (Minister of Public Services and Procurement, Lib.):聽

聽聽聽 Mr. Speaker, I share the concern about our long-term care residents. My own father is 90 years old and is also waiting for a vaccine. I am working with my department and the Government of Canada extremely hard every single day to ensure that all Canadians will have access to a vaccine as soon as possible.

聽聽聽聽 That is why we are assured that we will receive over 300,000 vaccines next week, and those will be distributed to the provinces and territories. From there, the vaccines are going to ramp up, and we will see millions and millions of vaccines rolling into this country in the next quarter.

On Tuesday, Falk was back at it during the emergency debate on the issue of vaccine availability, with the Parliamentary Secretary providing answers instead of the minister.

Mrs. Rosemarie Falk (Battlefords鈥擫loydminster, CPC):聽

聽聽聽 Mr. Speaker, it is unacceptable that Canada is getting zero doses of the Pfizer vaccine this week, when other countries are not having their supplies slashed to zero. It is Canadians who will pay for the delays caused by poor planning and bad negotiations, and it is our seniors, those who care for them and their families who will pay the highest price.

聽聽聽 Lives and livelihoods depend on the timely access of vaccines. What is the government going to do to fix the vaccine shortage?

Mr. Steven MacKinnon (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Services and Procurement, Lib.):聽

聽聽聽 Mr. Speaker, we have been very clear about our schedule of vaccine deliveries, and that schedule is the same. We will be receiving six million doses before the end of Q1, and we will be continuing to ramp up deliveries such that Canadians who want a vaccine will be able to access one by the end of September. This is information we have supplied consistently with Canadians and this is information we will continue to supply.

Mrs. Rosemarie Falk (Battlefords鈥擫loydminster, CPC):聽

聽聽聽 Mr. Speaker, we are getting zero vaccines this week and the Liberals' plan is so clear that their own members cannot make sense of it. The Prime Minister needs to come clean about why Canada's supply is being slashed more than that of other countries and how that is being addressed. If we are not hitting our targets now, that offers Canadians little assurance going forward. We know that every delay has a cost, for families who will lose loved ones, for seniors facing isolation and for the front-line workers who are just plain exhausted.

聽聽聽 Will the Prime Minister finally release the full details of the negotiated contracts?

Mr. Steven MacKinnon (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Services and Procurement, Lib.):聽

聽聽聽 Mr. Speaker, we know that 1.1 million doses of the vaccine have already entered Canada. That number is among the best in the G20, and that number will continue to ramp up to six million in the first quarter and continue right throughout the year so that all Canadians who wish to receive a vaccine by the end of September will be able to receive a vaccine. This is information we have shared on numerous occasions.

聽聽聽 I say to the opposition and all Canadians that we will continue to do so. There is no greater priority for this government than ensuring the successful conclusion of a vaccine program for all Canadians.