Hon. Amina Gerba: My question is for the Government Representative in the Senate.

Senator Moreau, the Ebola outbreak continues to be a cause for serious concern. As of last week, the number of confirmed cases exceeded 10,000, and the death toll has surpassed 5,000.

Dr. Jean Kaseya, Director-General of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, has appealed for a stronger international response to limit the risk of the virus spreading to other regions.

Canada had announced a contribution of $8 million.

Given that the situation is getting worse, will the government increase its financial support?

Hon. Pierre Moreau (Government Representative in the Senate): Thank you for the question, Senator Gerba.

Canada is supporting efforts to combat the terrible Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is working in close cooperation with its regional partners to limit the spread of the virus.

This year, the government announced $47 million to fight this deadly disease, including announcing $36 million in new assistance in September for the DRC and neighbouring countries, because it is important to stop the disease from spreading.

The government’s assistance helps deliver life-saving care and advance the development of new tools for preventing and treating the Ebola virus. A swift, coordinated response is essential to saving lives and stopping the outbreak from spreading further, and Canada is part of this fight.

Senator Gerba: Thank you. I am delighted to hear that assistance is coming.

Senator Moreau, Canadian and Congolese researchers have already made an important contribution to outbreak surveillance by sequencing over 1,000 genomes of the virus. However, they say that they need additional resources to continue their efforts.

Is the government willing to increase its support for these scientific efforts?

Senator Moreau: Thank you.

As you mentioned in your main question, in May, Canada committed to providing $8 million to help combat the Ebola virus. Of that amount, $2 million is earmarked for the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention to accelerate surveillance and to support biosecurity measures.

In late July of this year, Health Canada also authorized Moderna to launch a clinical trial of its Bundibugyo virus vaccine. The federal government has also implemented —

The Hon. the Speaker pro tempore: Thank you, Senator Moreau.