Questions and responses 45th Parliament, 1st session May 26, 2025, to present

With regard to the Public Health Agency of Canada and the government’s future health approach: (a) which agency, entities or ministries are involved in (i) the pandemic prevention, preparedness and response protocols, (ii) the One Health approach; (b) what is the One Health approach and where or how did it originate; (c) which bills are currently tabled or have been passed which would operationalize (i) Canada’s pandemic prevention, preparedness and response protocols, (ii) the One Health approach in Canada, (iii) any other World Health Organization or United Nations international health or pandemic treaties or agreements; (d) have staff already been hired or will staff be hired and trained to integrate the One Health approach into Canadian policy and legislation; (e) if the answer to (d) is affirmative, (i) where and under which department or agency will these employees work, (ii) where are these positions posted, (iii) what are the hiring criteria for these staff, (iv) who selects the staff, (v) how many positions exist or will be created; (f) what is the budget allocation to integrate the One Health approach; (g) are there training programs for nongovernmental professionals in One Health and, if so, where are they located; and (h) if the answer to (g) is affirmative, (i) how are the training programs funded, (ii) what are their goals, (iii) who instructs these courses, (iv) what are the requirements to instruct these courses, (v) how did the instructors obtain these requirements?

With regard to Canada’s engagement with the World Health Organization's Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response Agreement (the Agreement) and the amendments to the International Health Regulations: (a) what steps has the government taken to ensure parliamentary review before signing or ratifying the Agreement; (b) has Global Affairs Canada or the Privy Council Office prepared any analysis comparing Canada’s treaty ratification process with those of Australia or the United Kingdom regarding public health treaties, and, if so, what are the details, including the findings, of that analysis; (c) how does the government plan to align domestic laws with the Agreement, and which departments will have enforcement authority; and (d) how does the government plan to align domestic laws with the amendments to the International Health Regulations, and which departments will have enforcement authority?