Probably one way to speak to that is to say we'll work together the way we're working now. While we're a separate entity currently--separate authorities, my accountabilities, budget authorities, etc.--we work very closely. We're part of the same health portfolio. Both the deputy minister of health and I report to the same minister. We meet regularly. We have a number of files and issues that we share between Health Canada and the agency, and some also with CIHR, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. At all levels of the organization there are regular discussions and meetings and examination of what our piece is versus Health Canada's. As well, for example, on the pandemic issue there is a deputy minister's committee of some 30 departments now that I co-chair with the deputy at public safety. There are a number of levels at which we interact, not only at the deputy level but also throughout the organization. Public health issues largely are not even simply whole-of-government issues, but often whole-of-society issues, so it's very important that even while we.... I mean, we certainly welcome the additional capacity that we're slowly developing in response to these issues. Clearly, the real work takes place outside of the agency. So to the extent that we can facilitate that, it is a good thing, but we have to engage in partnership in order to do it.
On May 11th, 2006. See this statement in context.