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House Hansard - 153

44th Parl. 1st Sess.
February 3, 2023 10:00AM
Context: House Hansard - 153 - Feb/3/23
Mr. Gérard Deltell (Louis-Saint-Laurent, CPC)
  • Feb/3/23 11:34:36 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, my thoughts this morning are with the 300 workers at Medicago who find themselves unemployed today because the Quebec City-based pharmaceutical company is closing its doors. Two years ago, the Liberal government invested $173 million of taxpayers' money in this company to develop a vaccine. The vaccine was produced, but it was not recognized by the WHO, and it never will be because cigarette manufacturer Philip Morris was one of Medicago's shareholders. The WHO never recognizes the work of cigarette manufacturers in this area. How could the government be so negligent?
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Context: House Hansard - 153 - Feb/3/23
Mr. Gérard Deltell (Louis-Saint-Laurent, CPC)
  • Feb/3/23 11:35:59 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, if the government had been in “double-checking mode”, it would not have to be in problem-solving mode today. In 2003, the WHO determined that companies partly owned by tobacco makers should not receive subsidies or recognition. This is exactly the situation Medicago is in. This agreement dates back to 2003 and was signed by the Government of Canada. On December 23, the Minister of Health told the newspaper Le Soleil that he was surprised by the WHO's decision. That makes no sense, because the agreement dates back to 2003. There was no way this was going to be approved. Medicago was awarded $173 million. How much of that money went into the pockets of the Philip Morris company? Can we have any assurance that this money—
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