Thank you, Madam Chair.
First of all, I would like to welcome the witnesses, thank them for being here today, and tell them that I sympathize with them because the government has, unfortunately, cut $160 million from the science sector. I realize that the cuts will probably affect them.
I would like to begin with Ms. Wilson. We began a conversation in February, and I would like to pick up where we left off. To my great surprise, not much has changed since February. We met during the committee's initial meetings. Assisted Human Reproduction Canada was still in court against the Government of Quebec, which was challenging the organization's constitutionality. The organization is still mired in that same legal process.
Ms. Wilson, I think it is strange that, during your opening statement, you said that you consulted stakeholder organizations and individuals. You also said that, when you took the job in February 2007, you made it a priority to meet with various individuals and organizations from across the country who represented the interests of parties governed by the Assisted Human Reproduction Act. You also said that you wanted to work with both Canadian and international organizations.
Unfortunately, Quebec has once again been forgotten. The proof is that the Province is challenging the federal government's decision and the constitutionality of your organization in court. You said that you consulted interested individuals and organizations, but did you consult Quebec before setting your priorities and getting started? It does cost $10 million per year, after all. Right now, you are setting priorities and you have 44 employees. I see here that you are thinking of setting the agency up in Vancouver, transferring the head office there, but you are still where you were in February. The case with the Government of Quebec is still before the court. You are still spending $10 million per year, and everything is going well, you have no problems, you have 44 employees. Yet, you have no idea whether the Supreme Court will rule in your favour or in favour of the Government of Quebec, which has a strong position. In my opinion, which is also the opinion of the Province of Quebec and its ministry of health, your organization's activities encroach on Quebec's jurisdiction.
We started talking about this last time, but we did not have time to finish our conversation. I would like to know how you see things working out given that the case with Quebec is not yet resolved. Do you have a plan B in case the Supreme Court does not rule in your favour? What will you do with the money that will have been spent? Have you come up with a way to compensate Quebec if the court does not rule in your favour?