Federal, provincial and territorial ministers discuss rebuilding biomanufacturing in Canada

February 16, 2021 - Ottawa, Ontario

Today, the Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, along with the Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, President of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, met with provincial and territorial ministers to discuss efforts to rebuild biomanufacturing capacity in Canada.

Ministers LeBlanc and Champagne had a very positive discussion with their counterparts and updated them on the federal government’s investments to increase domestic capacity to manufacture vaccines and therapeutics. This includes investments of over half a billion dollars in projects that will ensure that Canada is well positioned to produce safe and effective vaccines and therapies, here at home, both for COVID-19 and any future pandemic needs. They outlined how these investments began just days after the declaration of COVID-19 as a pandemic, and how federal government continues to review promising domestic investment opportunities as they develop.

Ministers LeBlanc and Champagne noted how the expert scientific advice of the Vaccine Task Force, the Therapeutics Task Force and their Joint Biomanufacturing Subcommittee has informed the federal government’s investment decisions in pursuing the most promising opportunities for rebuilding Canada’s biomanufacturing resilience and long-term supply of life-saving vaccines and therapeutics.

Minister Champagne also outlined his intention to launch consultations on how Canada—including all levels of government, science and research leaders, and the private sector—can promote long-term sustainable growth in its biomanufacturing sector to ensure current and future pandemic preparedness.

Associated links:

• Government of Canada investments in COVID-19 vaccines and biomanufacturing capacity
• Vaccine and Therapeutics task forces and Biomanufacturing Subcommittee