Canadian taxpayers were on the hook for $323 million that went towards a Quebec vaccine facility that was never built and never produced a single vaccine.
The startling revelation came from a House of Commons health committee meeting Monday regarding Medicago, a now defunct company in Quebec City that received $323 million in federal subsidies – double the amount initially reported.
Despite the money, its vaccine never made it to market.
As reported by Blacklock’s Reporter, a factory executive chose not to disclose the details of the contracts.
Medicago CEO Toshifumi Tada refrained from divulging contract details.
Despite having two agreements with the Canadian government, Medicago failed to deliver any Covid vaccines under an Advance Purchase Agreement, costing taxpayers $150 million.
“We didn’t deliver anything,” Tada admitted in his testimony.
The company also secured around $173 million in research subsidies through Innovation Canada’s Strategic Innovation Fund, but Tada was unable to provide specifics, citing confidentiality constraints.
The lack of transparency around this deal has been a point of frustration for opposition MPs.
“You won’t tell this committee of Parliament how much money the Government of Canada actually, in the end, transferred to you?” Conservative MP Rick Perkins asked.
“I have a confidentiality obligation,” Tada replied.
Conservative MP Gérard Deltell stressed the importance of transparency with taxpayer money.
Medicago closed its operations in Quebec City Feb. 3, at the cost of 600 jobs. The health committee was informed that its parent company, Mitsubishi Chemical Group, faced challenges in scaling vaccine production.
Conservative MP Stephen Ellis expressed confusion despite participating in the case throughout its tenure.
“I think our job sitting around this table is to come to a better idea of what happened to Canadian taxpayers’ money. I don’t feel like that is forthcoming. That is a shame,” he said.
The Department of Public Works acknowledged it “took a risk” in subsidizing Medicago’s plant, reported Blacklock’s.
“We took a risk of putting contracts with various suppliers for enough vaccines for all Canadians,” said Joelle Paquette, director general of the public works department.
The federal government signed a non-refundable advance purchase agreement with Medicago in October 2020 despite no assurance of vaccine approval from Health Canada.
Health Minister Mark Holland defended the government’s actions, citing the urgent need for vaccines during the pandemic.
Despite receiving approval in 2022, Medicago failed to mass produce its vaccine following the World Health Organization’s (WHO) denial of its emergency use application due to the company’s association with a prominent tobacco company.
The federal health committee voted on November 8 to investigate why Medicago received a $323 million contract without any net benefit to taxpayers.
Conservative MP Stephen Ellis brought forward the motion after learning the federal government paid $150 million to Medicago for 76 million doses of the Covid vaccine — one that never made it to market.
“Three hundred million dollars of taxpayer money was wasted and…was hidden deep in a document,” Ellis told the committee, as reported by CBC.
I wonder what the total cost of having tampons in the men’s rooms of all federal regulated buildings will be. Maybe Ralph can get a pool going. $10 a guess, closest to the actual # gets to choose the charity the pot is donated to.
You know that politicians owe it to us to be accountable with our tax-dollars.
But Tourism Minister Lana Popham is trying to pull the wool over our eyes while dishing out the big bucks for FIFA bureaucrats.
Here’s what’s happening:
B.C. Place has been chosen to host at least five soccer games as part of the FIFA 2026 World Cup.
But the FIFA bigwigs aren’t happy with how B.C. Place looks right now. They are demanding that B.C. taxpayers pay for a slew of renovations.
FIFA wants us to pay for: VIP suites and hospitality spaces, new elevators, lounges, a “premium entrance” and a connector between the stadium and a nearby casino.
In other words, FIFA mucky mucks want you to pay for their luxurious lifestyle. They want a private entrance to the stadium so they don’t have to mix with us plebs and new VIP suites where they’ll sip champagne and eat caviar while normal British Columbians are left with the tab.
To add insult to injury, Tourism and Sport Minister Lana Popham won’t tell us how much these renovations will cost. When asked to explain these renovations, she smiled and said “FIFA has a lot of requirements.”
Regardless of whether or not you care about soccer, you deserve accountability when your tax dollars are being spent.
Popham hasn’t formally approved the spending yet so there’s time for you to speak up.
Will you take a minute to tell Tourism Minister Lana Popham what you think about all of this? Here’s her email address: TACS.Minister@gov.bc.ca
Thanks for standing up for taxpayers, you’re making a difference!
If carbon emissions are as dire as Eby and co insist, shouldn’t sporting events, concerts etc. be abolished completely? Personally, I would rather have burping cows than soccer. I like steak!!
People with no teeth get free dental care. People with no uterus get free tampons. Pretty soon, people with no brains will get some of the most important jobs in the country…… oh wait
We are entering the new age of zoning. The district office staff have an antiquated idea of how the zoning works as in it's prohibitive. You can't do certain things in certain zones....... They look at maps and draw lines and talk about community values, the OCP, smart this and smart that, payday is on Friday. The rest of us just watch as 200 temporary accommodations occupy whatever they feel like paying the rent for. Industrial becomes tourist because there's lots more parking there. to the hipsters there is no zoning. They do whatever they feel like. organic zoning. For years we've all watched no enforcement of by-laws. tofu by-laws. the premier of bc wants to do away with single family zoning in most areas. the district is well on its way to this already.
Yes all that industrial land now that it is gone to tourism, will never be used for on land fish farms, an industrial land use. This town is so short sighted it will probably not want to follow the province on cracking down on free for all vacation rentals with no supervision. A local would know better than to let off Roman candle fireworks like was done last nite at 1:30 am. We need a council that acts for the residents and the future of the town.
What fool would ever consider hauling tons of feed here (by truck via Hwy 4) to grow fish on land, that would then have to be hauled back (by truck via Hwy 4) to the mainland markets? Wouldn't anyone with a brain simply put land based aquaculture on the mainland, perhaps adjacent to the Trans Canada Hwy, or maybe rail transportation routes?
Should the farms in the sound ever be shut down, that'll be the end of fish farming on the west coast.
Another "success" to add to her long list of accomplishments......
Myra Falls Mine will have a long-term closure due to it being “no longer financially viable,” according to a statement from Trafigura.
Trafigura is a Singapore-based metals and energy company, that owns Myra Falls Mine south of Buttle Lake.
In a statement, the company says increased operating costs and reduced metal costs mean the mine is no longer financially viable.
“We recognize that this decision will be difficult news for our employees and other stakeholders and is in no way a reflection of the hard work and commitment of our people in recent years,” Hein Frey, general manager of the Myra Falls Mine said in a statement.
“Myra Falls Mine will now undergo a period of restructuring with the aim of returning to active operations in the future when market conditions allow.”
An employee told CHEK News there are over 300 people laid off.
“It kind of sucks, you got young kids, you got a family, but you push on, life goes on,” Shawn Shwaluk, who has two young kids at home, told CHEK News. “Yeah, I hope Amazon has a good return policy on all these Christmas gifts, but it is what is.”
Josie Osbourne, minister of energy, mines and low carbon innovation, said in a statement to CHEK News the mine would be closed for at least the next 12 months.
“I know that the impact of the decision made by the company is extremely difficult for employees and contractors who work at the mine, their families, and the entire community. The Ministry of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation has community transition services that are available for people who are experiencing the loss of a major employer, and they will be reaching out to the community to offer this support,” Osbourne said.
“Their teams coordinate federal and provincial programs and work directly with the affected community to support impacted workers. If their offer of assistance is accepted, the team will work with the community by offering tailored economic development support to meet their specific needs and connect them to opportunities.”
Awwww there's no one here to hate. Can't we get back to STR owners? or Trudeau?
ReplyDeleteThis is better than the trailer story.....
ReplyDeleteCanadian taxpayers were on the hook for $323 million that went towards a Quebec vaccine facility that was never built and never produced a single vaccine.
The startling revelation came from a House of Commons health committee meeting Monday regarding Medicago, a now defunct company in Quebec City that received $323 million in federal subsidies – double the amount initially reported.
Despite the money, its vaccine never made it to market.
As reported by Blacklock’s Reporter, a factory executive chose not to disclose the details of the contracts.
Medicago CEO Toshifumi Tada refrained from divulging contract details.
Despite having two agreements with the Canadian government, Medicago failed to deliver any Covid vaccines under an Advance Purchase Agreement, costing taxpayers $150 million.
“We didn’t deliver anything,” Tada admitted in his testimony.
The company also secured around $173 million in research subsidies through Innovation Canada’s Strategic Innovation Fund, but Tada was unable to provide specifics, citing confidentiality constraints.
The lack of transparency around this deal has been a point of frustration for opposition MPs.
“You won’t tell this committee of Parliament how much money the Government of Canada actually, in the end, transferred to you?” Conservative MP Rick Perkins asked.
“I have a confidentiality obligation,” Tada replied.
Conservative MP Gérard Deltell stressed the importance of transparency with taxpayer money.
Medicago closed its operations in Quebec City Feb. 3, at the cost of 600 jobs. The health committee was informed that its parent company, Mitsubishi Chemical Group, faced challenges in scaling vaccine production.
Conservative MP Stephen Ellis expressed confusion despite participating in the case throughout its tenure.
“I think our job sitting around this table is to come to a better idea of what happened to Canadian taxpayers’ money. I don’t feel like that is forthcoming. That is a shame,” he said.
The Department of Public Works acknowledged it “took a risk” in subsidizing Medicago’s plant, reported Blacklock’s.
“We took a risk of putting contracts with various suppliers for enough vaccines for all Canadians,” said Joelle Paquette, director general of the public works department.
The federal government signed a non-refundable advance purchase agreement with Medicago in October 2020 despite no assurance of vaccine approval from Health Canada.
Health Minister Mark Holland defended the government’s actions, citing the urgent need for vaccines during the pandemic.
Despite receiving approval in 2022, Medicago failed to mass produce its vaccine following the World Health Organization’s (WHO) denial of its emergency use application due to the company’s association with a prominent tobacco company.
The federal health committee voted on November 8 to investigate why Medicago received a $323 million contract without any net benefit to taxpayers.
Conservative MP Stephen Ellis brought forward the motion after learning the federal government paid $150 million to Medicago for 76 million doses of the Covid vaccine — one that never made it to market.
“Three hundred million dollars of taxpayer money was wasted and…was hidden deep in a document,” Ellis told the committee, as reported by CBC.
I wonder what the total cost of having tampons in the men’s rooms of all federal regulated buildings will be. Maybe Ralph can get a pool going. $10 a guess, closest to the actual # gets to choose the charity the pot is donated to.
ReplyDeleteis there nobody in any government who says "this is a stupid idea"
ReplyDelete....from the Canadian Taxpayers Federation...
ReplyDeleteYou know that politicians owe it to us to be accountable with our tax-dollars.
But Tourism Minister Lana Popham is trying to pull the wool over our eyes while dishing out the big bucks for FIFA bureaucrats.
Here’s what’s happening:
B.C. Place has been chosen to host at least five soccer games as part of the FIFA 2026 World Cup.
But the FIFA bigwigs aren’t happy with how B.C. Place looks right now. They are demanding that B.C. taxpayers pay for a slew of renovations.
FIFA wants us to pay for: VIP suites and hospitality spaces, new elevators, lounges, a “premium entrance” and a connector between the stadium and a nearby casino.
In other words, FIFA mucky mucks want you to pay for their luxurious lifestyle. They want a private entrance to the stadium so they don’t have to mix with us plebs and new VIP suites where they’ll sip champagne and eat caviar while normal British Columbians are left with the tab.
To add insult to injury, Tourism and Sport Minister Lana Popham won’t tell us how much these renovations will cost. When asked to explain these renovations, she smiled and said “FIFA has a lot of requirements.”
Regardless of whether or not you care about soccer, you deserve accountability when your tax dollars are being spent.
Popham hasn’t formally approved the spending yet so there’s time for you to speak up.
Will you take a minute to tell Tourism Minister Lana Popham what you think about all of this? Here’s her email address: TACS.Minister@gov.bc.ca
Thanks for standing up for taxpayers, you’re making a difference!
- Carson Binda, British Columbia Director.
If carbon emissions are as dire as Eby and co insist, shouldn’t sporting events, concerts etc. be abolished completely? Personally, I would rather have burping cows than soccer. I like steak!!
ReplyDeletePeople with no teeth get free dental care. People with no uterus get free tampons. Pretty soon, people with no brains will get some of the most important jobs in the country…… oh wait
ReplyDeleteWe are entering the new age of zoning. The district office staff have an antiquated idea of how the zoning works as in it's prohibitive. You can't do certain things in certain zones....... They look at maps and draw lines and talk about community values, the OCP, smart this and smart that, payday is on Friday. The rest of us just watch as 200 temporary accommodations occupy whatever they feel like paying the rent for. Industrial becomes tourist because there's lots more parking there. to the hipsters there is no zoning. They do whatever they feel like. organic zoning. For years we've all watched no enforcement of by-laws. tofu by-laws.
ReplyDeletethe premier of bc wants to do away with single family zoning in most areas. the district is well on its way to this already.
Yes all that industrial land now that it is gone to tourism, will never be used for on land fish farms, an industrial land use. This town is so short sighted it will probably not want to follow the province on cracking down on free for all vacation rentals with no supervision.
ReplyDeleteA local would know better than to let off Roman candle fireworks like was done last nite at 1:30 am.
We need a council that acts for the residents and the future of the town.
Gimme a break. "land based fish farms in Tofino"
ReplyDeleteWhat fool would ever consider hauling tons of feed here (by truck via Hwy 4) to grow fish on land, that would then have to be hauled back (by truck via Hwy 4) to the mainland markets? Wouldn't anyone with a brain simply put land based aquaculture on the mainland, perhaps adjacent to the Trans Canada Hwy, or maybe rail transportation routes?
Should the farms in the sound ever be shut down, that'll be the end of fish farming on the west coast.
Another "success" to add to her long list of accomplishments......
ReplyDeleteMyra Falls Mine will have a long-term closure due to it being “no longer financially viable,” according to a statement from Trafigura.
Trafigura is a Singapore-based metals and energy company, that owns Myra Falls Mine south of Buttle Lake.
In a statement, the company says increased operating costs and reduced metal costs mean the mine is no longer financially viable.
“We recognize that this decision will be difficult news for our employees and other stakeholders and is in no way a reflection of the hard work and commitment of our people in recent years,” Hein Frey, general manager of the Myra Falls Mine said in a statement.
“Myra Falls Mine will now undergo a period of restructuring with the aim of returning to active operations in the future when market conditions allow.”
An employee told CHEK News there are over 300 people laid off.
“It kind of sucks, you got young kids, you got a family, but you push on, life goes on,” Shawn Shwaluk, who has two young kids at home, told CHEK News. “Yeah, I hope Amazon has a good return policy on all these Christmas gifts, but it is what is.”
Josie Osbourne, minister of energy, mines and low carbon innovation, said in a statement to CHEK News the mine would be closed for at least the next 12 months.
“I know that the impact of the decision made by the company is extremely difficult for employees and contractors who work at the mine, their families, and the entire community. The Ministry of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation has community transition services that are available for people who are experiencing the loss of a major employer, and they will be reaching out to the community to offer this support,” Osbourne said.
“Their teams coordinate federal and provincial programs and work directly with the affected community to support impacted workers. If their offer of assistance is accepted, the team will work with the community by offering tailored economic development support to meet their specific needs and connect them to opportunities.”
"increased operating costs" translate--Carbon Tax
ReplyDeleteIf you were trying to destroy a country, what would you do different?
ReplyDeletePeople have to stop trusting these forked tongue devils and stop believing that they are there to better our lives.
They're not.
They're at the trough for themselves.
They represent no one but themselves.
Narcissism, pure and simple.
At the local level, how about our duo that made it to the marquis lights.
Look at their jowls that have formed recently..
Way too much fine food and liquor in their bellies before bedding down for the night.
The body reveals the lie, no clothing can hide.
is it any wonder their disingenuous Cheshire cat grins fail to convince anymore?
"So transparent, you can see the clockwork gears in their heads."
I imagine they look at themselves in the morning mirror and think that they are really cool, indispensable maybe.
All the while sucking off the public teat.