International Trade committee  We're going to need a lot more information. It would be disconcerting if it moves forward with one and takes with the other.

International Trade committee  Sorry, everybody jumps in. My apologies. No. The rules haven't been set and we can't come to those conclusions. We could look towards the European model and learn from it, and we're trying to understand exactly how it works. However, I actually see patent term restoration as remedial in nature.

International Trade committee  We'll be talking over the next couple of years.

International Trade committee  Not prior to reading that in the technical document, as far as I can tell, no. My understanding is that it wasn't part of discussions. You don't see that in the CETA accord either.

International Trade committee  This was the government's statement of its agenda moving forward. All I can say is that this is not part of the CETA agreement. The CETA agreement was a clear statement on equalizing fairness, if I can call it that, in front of the courts—but both sides would have the same rights.

International Trade committee  What I can say is that Canada will be more competitive. This is a fiercely competitive environment. I mentioned that we were spending well over $110 billion a year in research. Canada gets about $1.2 billion or $1.3 billion. About 75% of that is in clinical trials. So it's not the same kind of research you often see in bricks and mortars, but right in our health care system with patients, hospitals, and universities.

International Trade committee  It's hard to quantify the growth. It has been shown in the past that research dollars have grown significantly and that jobs come with it.

International Trade committee  Just in conclusion, we salute the government for reaching this landmark CETA agreement in principle. Obviously, the next two years are very important as we move towards implementation. I think it has been said in front of this committee before: the devil is in the detail. We have a lot of work to do, but we will work in complete collaboration to build a stronger and more competitive Canada.

International Trade committee  Again the devil is in the details, but it seems that it's modelled after the European model, which has five years. Canada cut that short and said only two years.

International Trade committee  Thank you very much. I would like to express my thanks for this opportunity to appear before you to discuss the landmark Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement. It is a historic accord. My name is Russell Williams. I am the president of Rx&D.; I am accompanied by Darren Noseworthy, vice-president and general counsel of Pfizer Canada.

Health committee  I can't answer that question. Let me get you that information. I'll supply it to the committee.

Health committee  If I can offer part of an answer, I think the government has done that. Through the correspondence that's been quoted on a number of occasions, I think the government has instructed the entire chain to work together and come up with a solution. I actually think the government has played an important role in pushing us all together to come up with a solution.

Health committee  You're talking about purchasing here.

Health committee  We're not talking about regulation.

Health committee  It's to move away from sole-source procurement strategies. Find a way to have multiple sources of supply, in which you can adjust and gear up when things happen.