Thank you, Madam Chairperson.
Thanks to all of you for being here. I think this is a very exciting moment in Parliament. We have legislation that is going to make a real difference. I want to thank all of the department officials, of course the minister, and all of the people here from the different organizations who have worked so hard to push and prod all of us to get to this point.
I could certainly support the bill as it is, but without pushing my luck too much or hoping I don't ruin anything, I would like to pursue the possibility of a couple of amendments to see what you feel and get your expert advice.
Let me pick up where the Bloc left off on smokeless products. You didn't show any of those products, Mr. Glover, but there are things that look like bubble gum and peppermints that are flavoured chews. Although I know you've told us in the past that they represent only a small percentage of the problem, it seems that from talking to folks, especially the young people who have worked so hard in northwestern Ontario, there is a much higher usage in certain parts of the country. It could be as high as 25% in parts of northern Ontario or northern Canada.
Many people have written us saying the legislation is great, but asking if there is some way we could amend the legislation to include flavoured, smokeless tobacco. What would be the drawbacks of doing that? Do you think we could do that without causing huge problems for the bill?