SoVote

Hon. Mark Holland

Member of Parliament
Minister of Health
Liberal

Ajax
Ontario
Voting Attendance: 64%
Expenses Last Quarter: $134,982.00

Government Page

Context: House Hansard - 288 - Feb/29/24

Hon. Mark Holland (Minister of Health, Lib.)

Feb/29/24 2:44:14 p.m.
Watch

Mr. Speaker, in the first order, that is not true. What is true is that the Public Health Agency of Canada, which is one of the most respected agencies in the world, and which was there for us throughout the pandemic, is entirely responsible for its operations. The truth is that there were two individuals hired. They were Canadian citizens, eminent scientists, who were well known and well respected across Canada and around the world, who lied to the Public Health Agency of Canada. The Public Health Agency of Canada then took the very responsible action of firing those individuals and turning the matter over to the RCMP. They are currently under investigation. Some hon. members: Oh, oh!

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Context: House Hansard - 288 - Feb/29/24

Hon. Mark Holland

Feb/29/24 2:34:42 p.m.
Watch

Mr. Speaker, I would hope they are not suggesting that, if they had been in power, they would have interfered politically, and been able, through clairvoyance, to know that these eminent scientists, who at that point in time we had no reason to believe were anything other than Canadian scientists who were doing good research, and gotten rid of them before this happened.

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Context: House Hansard - 288 - Feb/29/24

Hon. Mark Holland (Minister of Health, Lib.)

Feb/29/24 2:34:01 p.m.
Watch

Mr. Speaker, I think it is important to step back and really consider what the Conservative Party is saying here. At the time they were hired, these two Canadian citizens were eminent scientists who were well published and well regarded throughout North America. The fact that they lied and misrepresented themselves is reprehensible— Some hon. members: Oh, oh!

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Context: House Hansard - 288 - Feb/29/24

Hon. Mark Holland (Minister of Health, Lib.)

Feb/29/24 2:24:39 p.m.
Watch

Mr. Speaker, it is the exact opposite of a cover-up. It was the current government that created the process that released the documents. Conservatives actually refused to participate in the process. The second thing I will say with respect to our national security interests is that it is essential, when we are dealing with national security, to recognize two things: that the party opposite is saying it would support partisan interference into the Public Health Agency of Canada, and that if it were in government, it would see that political interference into the process as acceptable. No, it is done at arm's length, and rightfully so. It is the Public Health Agency of Canada that identified these Canadian citizens, these eminent scientists, who were lying, and took action.

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Context: House Hansard - 288 - Feb/29/24

Hon. Mark Holland (Minister of Health, Lib.)

Feb/29/24 2:21:46 p.m.
Watch

Mr. Speaker, the two Canadian scientists in question were well-known for their work in virology and had spent their time working on health treatments for those who were suffering from viruses. With respect to collaboration, there is absolutely no evidence of the thing that the member is suggesting. I do not think that it is at all appropriate to suggest that they were involved with weaponization or things of this nature. The Conservatives have all the documents. They can see all of the information. We have waived all the normal considerations, not only of national security but also of employee relationships, that are normally kept confidential. It was our government that did that. That is why they have this—

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