Elizabeth May (Saanich—Gulf Islands)
2021-01-26 19:27

Mr. Speaker, I want it said from an opposition bench tonight that I know that the minister has been working extremely hard. I do not know how it is so easy to Monday morning quarterback these vaccines. I think it is extraordinary that we have vaccines. It is a remarkable achievement of modern science that vaccines exist for something we did not even know about a year ago. That is not to say mistakes have not been made, but I think we can turn the temperature down.

I am disturbed by the fact that Pfizer is trying to negotiate in the media with the government to get better tax treatment at the same time as it is withholding vaccines because of difficulties with its Belgian manufacturing operations.

Has the minister detected any link between Pfizer’s requests for better tax treatments and Canadians’ access to vaccines?

Hon. Anita Anand (Oakville)
2021-01-26 19:28

Mr. Speaker, I would like to state very firmly that the only thing I have discussed with Pfizer is the delivery schedule for the vaccines, the contractual obligations for the vaccines and the dates of arrival of vaccines in this country. It is something I do every single day with our vaccine suppliers, and I will not personally rest until all Canadians have access to a vaccine, which we expect to be by September 30, 2021, if not before.

I want to reiterate that I have not discussed any other matters with vaccine suppliers at all.

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