QUESTION PERIOD — Foreign Affairs
COVID-19 Pandemic--International Aid
May 6, 2021
My question is for the Government Representative in the Senate.
Senator Gold, I am disappointed by Canada’s lack of generosity in sharing vaccines with less developed countries. Our vaccine procurement strategy ignores our international responsibilities under health law, even though we are one of the countries that have vaccinated the most adults. Indeed, Canada was the only G7 country to take vaccines from COVAX when we were short. Moreover, we are among the richest nations to have secured the most agreements directly with manufacturers, thus reducing vaccine availability for other countries.
India is being ravaged by a terrible contagion. Sweden and France have already promised between half a million and one million vaccines to poor countries where less than 2% of the population has been vaccinated.
Senator Gold, will we be taking similar measures?
Thank you for your question, senator.
As I have mentioned on many occasions, Canada is one of the biggest investors in the COVAX program and, in this regard, we continue to work with our allies to make sure that the world’s entire population has access to the vaccines they need.
Furthermore, as Minister Gould mentioned, we are in discussions with our stakeholder allies to explore ways of increasing production capacity so that everyone can have access to vaccines.
