Mr. Speaker, the regulatory process is always an option for us to look at. My response was to deal with the immediate issue before us. If I started the regulatory process for jurisdictions, that would take about two years to complete. I needed to respond immediately to the drug shortages in Canada to be able to look at and identify sources for the provinces and territories.
The provinces and territories deliver health care. They have contracts with the industry to make sure that they have the drugs for their health care system.
Health Canada approves drugs for Canada and they are available for each jurisdiction whether they want to include them in their formularies or not. We also have emergency review processes in place to respond quickly to any type of shortage. We are doing that.
Again, it is up to the provinces and territories to purchase the drugs and to look at alternate suppliers so that they are not put in the situation which they are in now. Health Canada has been working 24/7 to assist the provinces and territories in dealing with the drug shortage situation.