Health committee  No, I'm just saying that the issue is very dead-on. Canadians consume a large percentage of their energy--22% for ages 4 to 18, that we know from CCHS 2.2--from foods that aren't part of your basic food supply. I will repeat what I said earlier. This food guide is talking about tough choices.

Health committee  Why? The issue is very much that this has been under way. We are being asked regularly for it. I would just like to tip the balance here a little here in terms of consultation and what you've heard. I used the sodium example earlier, and I'll repeat it. Sodium--

Health committee  I'll start with the last. I can categorically tell you that when this food guide comes out there will be criticism, because this is such a complex file with such diverging views. There will be criticism because it's impossible to meet everyone's needs. But I'm so glad you asked this question, because when you said...but you would be frustrated too, if you had opinions and those opinions weren't listened to.

Health committee  Yes, I know where you're going. I'm just saying that it's not--

Health committee  Within the department; it's all within the department.

Health committee  There's no more public consultation planned, no.

Health committee  It goes throughout the chain, right from the deputy minister to the assistant minister down to us.

Health committee  Not even out of our office.

Health committee  I would only say to you that lots of people thought we missed pieces. That's what the consultation process was. So we've got that.

Health committee  Do you know what I would love to do? I would love to return to this committee when this food guide comes out, lay it out to you, and have you look at it and tell us whether or not you think we've done what needs to be done. You say it's too late. In one sense, you're right. In 2007 we'll be here with the food guide.

Health committee  We went through every food group and asked questions on every food group. In terms of whether there was detailed, substantive questioning, my answer to you is no. It's not because we're not interested in that, but rather, what are you going to ask? I say that with respect, because in fact we spent a fair amount of time....

Health committee  Right now, the food guide is not finished until final concurrence is given by the Minister of Health to the product and its content. That's where we are; we're moving through right now. It's not there, but that's part of the process. Once that happens, we move immediately into production.

Health committee  It is a perspective that I know has been expressed by him, and it is a perspective that isn't shared widely by others. We take this very seriously. We don't just casually say we don't agree with something. We are very careful about this. I can take tell you that we've actually met with the scientific director of the Canadian Obesity Network, Dr.

Health committee  Let me tell you that the draft on which you heard testimony was a draft that went out for consultation. There's a resemblance to what will come out finally, but it has been improved by taking what we heard in consultation and improving it. When the comments are made about substance versus packaging, I want you to know—

Health committee  I know, I've read the transcripts. Let me tell you we care passionately about substance. Anyone who cares, in replying to the consultation where we go through and ask specific things, yes, about the packaging of the information, but also about how we're dealing with energy, which should be a very important issue for this committee, because we spent extensive time in consultation asking for input on how we had dealt with the energy balance issue and how we could improve it....