In recent weeks CA has met with two senior officials to continue advancing our industry’s objectives
1. Meeting with the New Deputy Minister of Health
The first was with the new Deputy Minister of Health Canada, Shalene Curtis-Micallef, who was appointed earlier this year and had formerly served as Deputy Minister of Justice and Attorney-General.
CA’s Darren Praznik and Beta Montemayor had the opportunity to brief the Deputy Minister on CA priorities which included the Carve-Out Strategy and need for red-tape reduction in the approval of DIN actives given the Carney Government’s trade diversification strategy. The DM was aware of the pressure coming from the E.U. in viewing the current “new drug approval process” as a barrier to trade. Although the DM did not make any commitments during the meeting, it was shortly thereafter that the Proposed Ministerial Order addressing this issue was announced.
CA also apprised the DM of the need to resolve the China GMP Certificate issue as it has been nearly two years since the Joint Industry-Health Canada Task Force (created by former Health Minister Duclos) issued it’s report – and to date there has still been no response from Health Canada. As CA pointed out, this may seem like a small issue until it becomes a big one and someone in Health Canada has to explain to Prime Minister Carney why a solution to protect $400M in annual exports to China has sat in Health Canada for two years unanswered. The DM indicated her appreciation of the issue and agreed to follow-up.
The other interesting take-away from the meeting was that for the first time since Paul Glover was Associated Deputy Minister, we actually heard Health Canada indicate that although it has to protect the health and safety of Canadians as well as maintain its’ reputation as a trusted regulator, it ALSO has a role in facilitating trade, trade diversification, and in assisting Canadian industry and manufacturing. These comments are very much welcomed by our membership and reflect the new approach Prime Minister Carney is bringing to the Government of Canada. It is also likely why the red-tape reduction effort is moving forward so speedily (by Health Canada standards).
2. Meeting with the Office of the Minister Responsible for Canada-U.S. Trade
CA President Darren Praznik also had the opportunity to meet with Galen Richardson, Director of Stakeholder Relations in the Office of the Hon. Dominic LeBlanc, Minister Responsible for Canada-U.S. Trade.
The meeting provided an opportunity to ensure Canada’s trade team on the CUSMA renewal appreciate the need for tariff-free trade in our sector and that any tariff and counter-tariff regime would be detrimental to what is a highly integrated international industry. CA also used the opportunity to inform the Minister’s office of the close working relationship and coordination of our three industry associations in Canada, the United States, and Mexico. We made clear that we all supported tariff-free trade for our sector and that our U.S. counterparts were strongly advocating within the U.S. for a renewal of CUSMA and tariff-free trade.
Mr. Richardson was pleased to hear of these efforts and indicated that it will take the strong and active efforts of U.S. industry to make the case to U.S. lawmakers and especially those with close ties to the Trump regime.
Although there was no information Mr. Richardson could share beyond what was already in the public realm, it was apparent that negotiations would likely extend beyond the July 1st date for formal “renewal”.
