I just hope that the government side understands that the job of parliamentarians is to hold the government to account. This is a weak report. We want commitment.
We know this is a complex issue. We know that it will never be solved in one department, and our recommendation 8 said that we would identify a lead department or agency. The response calls it the “health portfolio”. There is no mention of definitive plans or new initiatives.
I want to know if there is a deputy minister committee on childhood obesity. This is the first generation of kids that won't live as long as their parents. How are you coordinating between Health Canada, the Public Health Agency, CIHR, Finance, Indian and Northern Affairs, Sport Canada? Is there an interdepartmental committee, and has the Minister of Health ever met with the ministers of the other areas in order to deal with this or in formulating the response to this committee?