Thank you, Madam Chairperson.
And thanks to all of you for your presentation. It's very timely, actually, that we've started these hearings at the same time as, I understand, your department has started hearings on what I think would probably be considered the fourth attempt in the last decade to overhaul the Food and Drugs Act, always under the premise that it's outdated and needs to be modernized, and always based on moving our system from a precautionary model to the risk management model.
Everything you've told me today sends up all kinds of alarm bells that you're simply trying to do what we have defeated four times over at this committee or in the House for the last decade. Everything you've suggested to me today and to us says that in fact you're advancing the agenda for minimal pre-market precautions and beefing up the post-market end without necessarily ensuring that this government and this department have done their utmost to ensure that the products put on the market are safe beyond a reasonable doubt.
My first question is, why do you think the risk management model, which is to let the buyer beware and take their chances, is better than the do-no-harm principle? And how is that good for Canadians?