Debates of March 31, 2022 (day 111)
Member’s Statement 1073-19(2): Vaccine Equity
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Tomorrow the public health emergency ends but the fight against COVID19 does not end, and we must not stop talking about vaccination, Mr. Speaker. We are in a privileged position, having 82 percent of our population vaccinated and that remaining percentage is not due to a lack of vaccines. And it is my hope, Mr. Speaker, that those people who have refused to be vaccinated, some of whom have convinced themselves they are in an idealogical battle for freedom, will see that tomorrow we have zero restrictions left and maybe they will go quietly, get vaccinated, and protect themselves and those who are most vulnerable, Mr. Speaker.
In addition, Mr. Speaker, we are lucky that we got early access to vaccines. Canada is lucky that it secured access to vaccines yet, Mr. Speaker, in low income nations around the world, only one in ten people are vaccinated and this is due to a shortage of vaccines.
Canada has not lived up to its international covax commitments. We have not lived up to global vaccine equity. And we may be a small jurisdiction but I believe we need to be adding our voice to the fight for vaccine equity and making sure that we, and the Government of Canada, are a leader in this area.
Mr. Speaker, this is not just about vaccine equity. It is about the fight against COVID. This is a global battle and if we do not help the global self and low income nations get vaccine in their arms, we will see new variants emerge. We will not win the battle against COVID.
Mr. Speaker, during our vaccine implementation, we were leaders. We were one of the lowest waste jurisdictions. We did everything we could to make sure we did not waste vials of that vaccine, and I am proud of that work. But, Mr. Speaker, I want to make sure that we continue that work. We continue to advocate for vaccine equity and we make sure that we do not let a single dose expire in our hands.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will have questions for the Minister of Health and Social Services.
Thank you, Member for Yellowknife North. Members' statements. Member for Kam Lake.