Thank you, Kim, Mr. Chairman, and honourable committee members.
Throughout today's testimony, you will be made aware of several challenges facing organ and tissue donation and transplantation in Canada, not just those associated with donor deferral criteria. I would like to impart to the committee that there has recently been some positive momentum on this front. The federal, provincial, and territorial governments indicated that Canadian Blood Services will be given a mandate to begin work on key national services for organ and tissue donation and transplantation in Canada. Based on our existing national infrastructure and service delivery model, our experience in donor recruitment and deferral, our experience in biological product manufacturing and processing, our information systems and registry management, our independent governance structure, and our credibility with Canadian stakeholders and the public in general, the FPT governments have recognized that Canadian Blood Services is uniquely positioned and qualified to deliver those services within Canada's national organ and tissue supply chains.
Our understanding is that the focus of this hearing will be on the exclusionary criteria set out in the new safety of human cells, tissues and organs for transplantation regulations. While Canadian Blood Services was not involved in the development of these regulations, we will soon be operating under them and are therefore a key stakeholder.
We have extensive experience in operating in a highly regulated environment, since blood is subject to similar regulations under the Food and Drugs Act, where difficult decisions about donor eligibility must frequently be made in the name of patient safety. We have an earned reputation for openness and transparency and go to great lengths to include Canadians in our decision-making processes. We are also currently embarked on extensive discussions around the blood-related deferral, similar to the one under discussion today. We trust that this hearing will continue to ensure that the CTO regulations are developed in similar fashion.
I want to leave the committee with the sense that as we work with the donation and transplantation communities across Canada to improve performance in these critical aspects of the health care system, we will continue to engage all stakeholders in the many complex decisions that lie ahead. I am strongly encouraged by the opportunities before us and the sense that Canada can begin to improve upon its current poor performance in organ and tissue donation and transplantation.
Thank you.
Back to you, Kim.