That's exciting.
Thank you, Chair, for the opportunity to be here.
My apologies to all of you for not having the opportunity to submit a brief.
The Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health and the entire mental health community have been involved in the advocacy for the Canadian Mental Health Commission, which was recently established in the budget. We've concentrated there.
However, I have instructions to tell you that we're honoured to have the opportunity to make a presentation here this morning, brief though it may be, about raising awareness of mental illness and brain damage caused by toxins, particularly phthalates, in this instance.
We support the general implications of the bill. Particularly with regard to baby products and products aimed at pregnant women, we think it's quite appropriate to ban the substances.
At this stage of the game, I'm a past member of the advisory board for the Institute of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Addiction. I've consulted Dr. Rémi Quirion on this issue, and he's advised me that there has not been adequate research in this area from a mental illness or brain damage perspective. He would recommend that until there is research, this type of substance should be banned because of the implications and the work that's been done in the European Commission.
Suffice it to say that we appreciate the opportunity to be here. We support the bill, and we support greater awareness of committee members on issues relating to brain damage and corresponding mental illnesses, including depression, that follow from neurological issues.
I'll leave it there to keep the ball rolling. If there's anything I can help you with, I'd be happy to.