QUESTION PERIOD — Health
COVID-19 Vaccine Access
May 26, 2021
Honourable senators, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but today I will be asking about vaccines.
Last week, the Public Health Agency of Canada said that those returning to Canada from the U.S. may be exempted from quarantine if they travelled there for a COVID-19 vaccination. The next day, the agency reversed itself saying that quarantine exemptions are not meant for those receiving vaccinations and even claimed that “. . . COVID-19 vaccines are widely available in Canada.”
Ontarians who live along the border with the United States have been left upset and disappointed by these mixed messages from the federal government. The Mayor of Windsor is furious and has said:
This makes absolutely no sense, and it’s an active effort by our federal government to thwart the acceleration of vaccination of Canadians.
Senator Gold, what is the Trudeau government doing to help ensure Canadians can somehow access these vaccines from their neighbours in the United States?
Thank you for your question. The Government of Canada understands the concerns that all Canadians have as they await further doses. The Government of Canada has worked hard to supply provinces and territories with increasing supplies of vaccines. At the same time, the Government of Canada has a responsibility to ensure that those who return from abroad or from the United States are subject to appropriate rules to safeguard the health and safety of Canadians.
Senator Gold, as an Ontario senator, I am deeply disappointed that the Trudeau government has done nothing to either allow Canadians to receive these vaccines at the Windsor-Detroit border crossings or to bring these vaccines to Canada. The President and CEO of the Windsor Regional Hospital says there are tens of thousands of vaccines in Detroit which are set to expire this month and next month, which they want to make available for free to Canadians. He fears the federal government is ultimately concerned about how it would look if a lot of Canadians went across the border to be vaccinated in the U.S.
Leader, is that what’s stopping your government from solving this problem — the optics? Is that why your government flip-flopped and said that receiving a COVID-19 vaccine in the U.S. is not an essential medical service?
To the best of my understanding, senator, the answer to your question is no. The position of the Canadian government is focused exclusively on the health and safety of Canadians. It works with its partners. The Canadian government is working with its American counterparts as well to secure additional vaccines for Canadian use.
