Liberal Ministers blow off Health Committee meeting, attend panel at Liberal Convention instead
Liberal Ministers blow off Health Committee meeting, attend panel at Liberal Convention instead
April 8, 2021
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Ottawa, ON – The Hon. Michelle Rempel Garner, Conservative Shadow Minister for Health, Chris D’Entremont, Conservative Shadow Minister for Intergovernmental Affairs & Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, John Barlow, Member of Parliament for Foothills, and Larry Maguire, Member of Parliament for Brandon—Souris, issued the following statement on Minister Hajdu and the Minister Anand’s refusal to appear before the Health Committee while attending the partisan Liberal Party of Canada Convention:
“Last week, the Health Committee unanimously passed a motion for an emergency meeting calling on the Health Minister and the Procurement Minister to testify on pressing issues, including advice around the AstraZeneca vaccine, vaccine supply, and more.
“The Liberals outright ignored this important meeting. In contravention of the motion, the Chair didn’t even bother to schedule the emergency meeting at all.
“Opposition Members of Parliament are seeking urgent information and concrete answers for Canadians on the emerging issues related to the safety of the AstraZeneca vaccine; concerns surrounding possible vaccine supply shortages due to export restrictions by the European Union and India; Provincial governments receiving late vaccine deliveries from the federal government; and the National Advisory Committee on Immunization acknowledged that the reason they are recommending the four-month dosing interval is due to ‘limited COVID-19 vaccine supply.’
“Ministers Hajdu and Anand said they were unavailable to provide this vital information this week, but they were able to clear their schedules to speak at the Liberal Convention.
“Canada’s Conservatives will continue working hard to secure the future for Canadians. We are currently examining all options available to us to rectify this situation.”
