Could I ask all the members to take their seats. We have a lot of witnesses to listen to today for their very important testimony. We also have some business at 12:50 p.m., so we will be going until 12:50 p.m. and then we'll go in camera for committee business.
I would like to welcome the witnesses to the health committee this morning. We're very pleased that you could make it and very pleased that you're going to give us some of your insightful comments and expertise on this important topic.
Pursuant to Standing Order 108(2) and the motion adopted by the committee on March 13, 2008, section 25.9 of the Federal-Provincial Fiscal Arrangements Act, this is our third meeting on the statutory review of the 10-year plan to strengthen health care.
Before we begin, I want to mention that we have some committee business scheduled for the end of the meeting—a steering committee report and three budgets to pay witness expenses. It is very important that we get through this business following the presentations.
The organizations that will be taking part in the first panel are the Canadian Healthcare Association, the Wait Time Alliance, the Association of Canadian Academic Healthcare Organizations, the Canadian Generic Pharmaceutical Association, and Canada's Research-Based Pharmaceutical Companies (Rx & D).
We will begin with Ms. Pamela Fralick, president and CEO of the Canadian Healthcare Association.
Pamela, could you begin.