Thanks very much, Madam Chair.
Thank you very much, Minister, Dr. Butler-Jones, and Shelagh Jane Woods.
First, I want to say it is very important to us that you have come today. As a committee, we take the responsibility given to us by Parliament very seriously. I hope you will understand the difference between parliamentary oversight and an informational session or a briefing; that all members of this committee have been given the responsibility to make sure that we're as prepared as we possibly can be by the fall; and that we hope this meeting and others like it will help Canadians understand that, as their representatives, we are doing everything we possibly can to make sure they feel confident that they will know exactly what to do when this pandemic hits again in the fall.
I believe Canadians want to know where the gaps still are. In your remarks, you have said this afternoon that we can rest assured that this government is well prepared for this pandemic and will continue to implement the plan. We have been criss-crossing this country and know there's a lot of people who still don't know quite what they will do or what the mom will do about sending their children to school in two weeks, or their university student going off to university. There are also day care supervisors, and particularly chiefs and councils. Last week we heard from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, but also particularly from the premiers, who were calling for immediate and meaningful cooperation in tackling H1N1.
After SARS, the Naylor report said we needed to focus on four Cs: collaboration, communication, cooperation, and a clarity of who does what and when. We are very concerned that clarity does not exist, and we need you to help us understand who is expected to do what and where in the plan. How can Canadians understand what is in the plan and what is their responsibility?
Minister, I want to know when you will be meeting with your provincial and territorial colleagues. Have the roles and responsibilities been signed off? As to the money that is expected, is there enough money? And will you identify the gaps for us of the things you're still working on and the things that we, as parliamentarians, could help with?