WHO Pandemic Treaty Faces Little Opposition in Canada as US Politicians Concerned About ‘Sovereignty’ Push Back

The World Health Organization met on March 3rd to continue negotiations on global governance of pandemic responders. If the event flew under the radar in Canada, Republican politicians in the U.S. have taken a position against the treaty, expressing concern about its implications on their country’s sovereignty in policy-making.

On February 1, the World Health Organization (WHO), published its “Zero Draft“as the basis of negotiations to create an international instrument for managing pandemics.

It includes broad principles like respect for human rights and progressive themes. While it touches on issues such as vaccination management and combatting poliomyelitis, “misinformation.”

The Draft was considered at the WHO’s fourth meeting (INB4) of its intergovernmental negotiations body (WHO) this week.

Seventeen U.S. Republican senators responded and introduced A bill was introduced on February 15 to protect their country from any eventual agreement.

“The WHO, along with our federal health agencies, failed miserably in their response to COVID-19,” said Sen. Ron Johnson. “This failure should not be rewarded with a new international treaty that would increase the WHO’s power at the expense of American sovereignty.”

This is contrary to the will of Biden Administration. They held a strategic dialogue In September, they met with the WHO to discuss strengthening global capabilities to deal with pandemics.

The Canadian government is also supportive of the WHO’s development of a treaty on pandemics.

Although the negotiated treaty is legally binding, the Public Health Agency of Canada PHAC (Public Health Agency of Canada) will not be bound by it. says On its website, the WHO “has no jurisdiction in Canada, and Canada will remain in control of any future domestic decisions about national restrictions or other measures related to pandemics.”

Anna Maddison from PHAC, spokeswoman for the organization, stated that Canada considers all possible effects on domestic laws and policies whenever it negotiates an international instrument.

“The Government of Canada will seek to ensure that the development of a new pandemic instrument continues to respect our health, social, economic, and security contexts,” She said.

The Zero Draft also highlights that there is still some uncertainty regarding the question of national sovereignty.

The Draft’s guiding principle regarding sovereignty states that each state has the right to decide their own approach to public health, in accordance to international law. “provided that activities within their jurisdiction or control do not cause damage to their peoples and other countries.”

PHAC will not comment on whether the Draft is in dispute with Canada’s government. However, INB4 can help to understand the potential implications for Canada.

PHAC did not say if it would oppose a treaty.

“Canada is supportive of the process to develop and negotiate the pandemic instrument and participates in all negotiations in good faith,” Maddison.

Leslyn Lewis, a Conservative MP, was one of the few voices in Canada to oppose the future treaty.

“Canada must be careful to not sign anything that could give away our sovereignty on health care, even if there is tremendous international pressure to do so for the sake of pandemic preparedness,” She wrote September

Guiding Principles

The Draft also includes other guiding principles. “respect for human rights” “transparency.”

There are multiple progressive themes as well, like “equity,” “inclusiveness,” “gender equality,” “non-discrimination and respect for diversity,” “rights of individuals and groups at higher risk and in vulnerable situations.”

A focus on combatting is one of the areas in the draft that could cause controversy. “false, misleading, misinformation or disinformation” Encouragers of vaccine uptake

Each party is encouraged “conduct regular social listening and analysis to identify the prevalence and profiles of misinformation, which contribute to design communications and messaging strategies for the public to counteract misinformation, disinformation and false news, thereby strengthening public trust,” The draft.

“The Parties will contribute to research and inform policies on factors that hinder adherence to public health and social measures, confidence and uptake of vaccines, use of appropriate therapeutics and trust in science and government institutions.”

We are trying to increase vaccine intake by fighting “misinformation,” The Draft also looks into accountability for vaccine programs.

It calls for establishing a global compensation system for vaccine-injured patients. While this process is in progress, countries should try to eliminate indemnity clauses with manufacturers of indefinite or excessive length.

The Draft also suggests excluding confidentiality clauses.

This is a very current issue in Canada. Opposition MPs want to see contracts with vaccine producers.

The Liberal government claims that the contracts can only show up if the MPs sign an agreement not to disclose.

Liberal MP Anthony Housefather explained This was because the government had signed the contracts under unfavourable terms, he said on February 16.

“So that’s why these companies said, ‘If I’m going to deliver you this product that I haven’t tested in my normal way, I want to have different conditions'” He said.

The Draft also recommends increased oversight for research laboratories performing gain-of-function studies.

“Each Party shall, as applicable, implement and apply international standards for, oversight of and reporting on laboratories and research facilities that carry out work to genetically alter organisms to increase their pathogenicity and transmissibility, in order to prevent accidental release of these pathogens.”

Some evidence suggests The SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19 may be the result of gain-of function research and organizations like the FBI and U.S. Department of Energy assess The virus escaped the Wuhan Institute of Virology, China.

Additional U.S. intelligence agencies are also available assessed The initial SARS-CoV-2 infection was due to natural exposure to infected animals.

The INB will meet again in April. The WHO wants the agreement to be in place by 2024.

Kevin Stocklin contributed.