Thank you, Minister, for taking the time to be here with our committee.
Approximately 7,500 laboratories across Canada conduct research dealing with human pathogens and toxins. Currently, the Laboratory Biosafety Guidelines are mandatory for only 3,500 laboratories that import human pathogens and as such are subject to the human pathogens importation regulations regime. For the remaining 4,000 laboratories, which use only domestically acquired pathogens, the Laboratory Biosafety Guidelines serve as a guide but are not mandatory.
Minister, what is being done to increase and ensure laboratory safety in Canada and to standardize Canadian biosafety guidelines?