I call this meeting to order.
Welcome to meeting number 64 of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Health.
Today we will meet for two hours to begin our study of the Patented Medicine Prices Review Board.
Today's meeting is taking place in a hybrid format pursuant to the House order of June 23, 2022, in accordance with our routine motion.
I'm informing the committee that all participants in the meeting have completed the required connection tests in advance of the meeting.
I will also take this opportunity to give this reminder—although I don't think this panel of witnesses needs it—that the convention we follow in this committee is that the length of an answer shouldn't substantially exceed the length of time to pose the question. If you're embarking on a long answer, you can expect to be interrupted, either by the person who posed the question or by me. If you seek to interrupt before the witness has had a full opportunity to respond with a response of equal length, you can expect that I will intervene to allow them to continue.
With that, please allow me to welcome the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Health, who is joining us for the first hour.
He's joined by the following officials from the department of Health: Dr. Stephen Lucas, deputy minister, and Eric Bélair, associate assistant deputy minister from the strategic policy branch.
From the Department of Justice, we have Nessim Abu-Zahra, counsel, health legal services unit.
It's always nice to see you, Minister. Welcome to the committee. We will begin with opening remarks from you for up to five minutes. You have the floor.