Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, colleagues.
Witnesses, thank you for everything you've presented to us here today.
My first question is going to go to Ms. Mitchell.
Ms. Mitchell, thank you very much for your advocacy for animals. We should do everything we can so that they're not suffering in the testing that we do for our own needs.
I have a question for you on part 6 of the CEPA changes, because the way it's worded, CEPA addresses living organisms as defined by “a substance that is an animate product of biotechnology”, and then it gives the minister the authority to examine whether any new animate product of biotechnology is necessary or not.
Is it, in your opinion, in the minister's purview, obviously with his officials, to determine whether a product is necessary or not, or is that something that is naturally evolving as we go through this?
I'd really like your input on it, because I think that it is a gap we have so far. Any suggestion you might have about how to regulate that more appropriately would also be appreciated.