Thank you. I think we were assisted in achieving that goal by the campaign platform commitment in which I know you had a very important part to play.
I can tell members of the committee that I do think there can be a pan-Canadian role, a federal role if you will, that does not, as I say, trample on the flower patch of the provinces. We all have our areas of competency and jurisdiction. We all know that provinces have the primary role and responsibility when it comes to delivering at least non-native health services. It's not my place to disagree with that.
What I can say is that we can advance some of our goals by greater coordination and collaboration. That's exactly what the Canadian strategy on cancer control is all about. There are things, as the provinces will tell you, that can benefit from a national collaboration, a pan-Canadian collaboration if you will, whether it's screening and prevention or research activities. A number of cancer advocacy groups are nationwide in their representation and scope. It does make a certain amount of sense to deal with them from a national perspective.
All of those things, I believe, can be accomplished and can mean that the federal role is one that is complementary to the provinces and territories rather than being at cross purposes with them.
Of course, we're doing it with the funding that was agreed to, that is in the budget, the $260 million. My hope and expectation is that we can, in a collaborative way, come to an understanding that involves a number of the advocacy groups and agencies, and the provinces and territories, so that we can do as much good as possible.