From the beginning of this tragic event, you explained the situation publicly on several occasions. You did not try to hide anything and you accepted your responsibilities. I will not repeat what Mr. Easter just said about how transparent you were.
In the statement you just made, you virtually take full responsibility for what happened. I am uncomfortable with that. I have a hard time believing that Maple Leaf is solely responsible for these deaths. There is joint responsibility. Several incidents that occurred over time lead us to believe that the government also has some responsibility to bear. We cannot say that the government has no say in public health. Inspectors from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency must be in plants, and Health Canada also has responsibilities for food safety.
For some time now, you have been saying that if we had done things differently, 21 people would not have died. You appear to be taking full responsibility. What leads you to say such a thing?