PHAC President Given Until Friday to Explain Why Two Scientists Let Go

The National Microbiology Laboratory in Winnipeg in a file photo. John Woods/The Canadian Press

OTTAWA—The president of the Public Health Agency of Canada has been given until the end of the week to explain why two Canadian government scientists were let go 18 months after being escorted from Canada’s only Level 4 laboratory.

Iain Stewart came under fire Monday from opposition MPs after he repeatedly refused to explain why PHAC terminated the employment of Dr. Xiangguo Qiu and her husband, Keding Cheng, in January.