Thank you, Madam Chairperson, and thanks to all of you for your input today. Clearly there are some very divergent views on the question we're tackling as members of the health committee.
It seems to me that when we're talking about post-market surveillance, we're really trying to get from you the best advice for how government, i.e., Health Canada, can ensure that the drugs you put on the market are safe beyond a reasonable doubt and that there are checks and balances in place by government, not by those with vested interests to do that.
I'm very concerned, Dr. Fontana, that you're suggesting, in fact, more collaboration between government and the drug industry on this front, and you have made no recommendations for how you think you need to have proper oversight to ensure that Canadians' health and safety is put ahead of your right to make profits, and that's why you're in the business.
I'm very concerned that you seem to be going along with this risk management model of Health Canada, which of course will aid and abet your bottom line but will do nothing to help Canadians. Why are you not supporting the idea of an independent board to evaluate drug safety, as I understand the representatives from the Generic Pharmaceutical Association are? I'd like to hear from both of you about your views in terms of government's role vis-à-vis safety of drugs and who is in the best position to do that.