Emails released to the House of Commons committee on health suggest some on the regulator's board believed the crisis that followed the minister's letter threatened the very survival of the agency."We are experiencing a significant conflict that must be resolved to ensure the survival, integrity and proposer conduct of business for the ," former acting chair Melanie Bourassa Forcier wrote to the board members on Dec. 4, 2022.
"I respectfully ask that the board consider pausing the consultation process, so as to work collaboratively, with all stakeholders, to understand fully the short and long-term impacts of the proposed new guidelines," Duclos wrote. Clark also insisted that the minister had no intention of meeting with the board or the acting chair.
"Making such a promise puts us three in a terrible position because if we don't suspend as she intends, the likely suspects/knows it's us holding that up," board member Matthew Herder told his fellow board members in an email on Dec. 2.Herder and the other two board members took a hard stance against the minister's request, insisting that the consultations end on time and that the board meet with Innovative Medicines Canada after that.
Clark rebuked the acting chair, having had a "harsh" conversation with the lobby group just weeks earlier. The parties traded accusations about personal attacks, insubordination and negative effects on their mental health.