Thank you, Mr. Chair, and thank you, witnesses.
I would also like to welcome Rob Clarke, the new member from Saskatchewan. I think Rob would be pleased to see that this committee is well behaved and is doing important work.
I won't comment on who's here and who's not here at present, but just on the Auditor General's report. Health Canada did respond to that report by tabling an action plan in February 2007. The action plan included commitments, I understand, by the department to put in place measures to improve resource allocation and operational planning, processes, performance measurement, and costing programs.
I believe the department also committed to conducting comprehensive reviews of its regulatory programs, and there are progress reports being provided every six months to the public accounts committee dealing with your report. I understand that report will be tabled here at health committee as well.
Madame Fraser, I wonder if you could comment on the impact of these follow-ups. I believe Health Canada accepted all of your recommendations.
I am just going to get all my questions out off the top.
In regard to Infoway, it seems that Infoway is going to be key in any post-market surveillance program. I wonder if you could explain to us the challenges of dealing with 14 different jurisdictions, private sector physicians, and all the other stakeholders, and what your approach is in dealing with those challenges? What is your vision regarding the health records of the surveillance tool?
If there's time, I'd ask the privacy people to comment on the previous two witnesses' comments.