I agree with that last comment.
Also, an independent board for approvals could be a good idea. There's nothing wrong with a department doing it as long as the department acts independently and in the best interests, perhaps as legislatively required.
Your last question was on direct consumer advertising. I think that's terrible. It's supposed to be prohibited in Canada, but it's not really enforced, and the industry is trying to get around it.
Health Canada is at least trying to protect the standards we have now, but I believe most drug companies are trying to go directly to the consumer to avoid all the necessary approvals and so on.