Ms. Bush, you’re definitely tough and your defence of the Food Guide’s relevance is well put together, but I still have one question.
You’ve said that the individuals we named were consulted at the beginning of the draft stage of the process. They critiqued certain things and gave their advice on the matter.
Those people feel frustrated because their advice and criticisms were not taken into account, since they went against your interpretation. If I consult people and don’t take their advice, I criticize them and tell them they’re headed in the wrong direction.
One of the shortcomings identified by the Canadian Journal of Dietetic Practice and Research is that 25% of foods eaten are not included in Canada’s Food Guide.
Is it true that there’s another food category? This is important because we eat a lot of foods that could be bad for our health and are not included in Canada’s Food Guide.
Furthermore, with regards to the committee’s report, you are here today because I tabled a motion and wanted to obtain a copy of all of the deliberations.
Are you able to provide the committee with the report on the advice given by the various experts? In my view, the list of witnesses that was provided to us raises doubts about the objectivity of the food industry representatives, who may not have all they need to be considered experts, as Ms. Doran was saying.
Personally, I have a few doubts. Can you give us the evidence on which you based your decisions with regard to Canada’s Food Guide? And could you provide us with a copy? Are you willing to print all your recommendations? Perhaps they’re already printed by now and changes aren’t even possible. Why aren’t you providing the committee with a copy?
You’ve defended the Guide and you claim that it is good. If what you’re saying is true and you’ve taken the important advice, those who’ve critiqued the Guide will say that you listened to them. However, I don’t expect to see what these critics were saying included in the Guide when it comes out.
Are you telling us that we’re completely off the mark and that we’ve perhaps heard too many unfounded criticisms of the implementation of Canada’s Food Guide?