In terms of consultations with the provinces and territories, actually we would not look at provinces and territories as other stakeholders. However, we've done broad consultations where people...scientists who would work in provincial labs or university labs would be welcome to come. We've also used our Pan-Canadian Public Health Network, Public Health Network Council, and the Council of Chief Medical Officers of Health to discuss this issue. We'll continue to use that as our primary public health vehicle for consultations with provinces and territories. We would encourage people within those jurisdictions to be in touch with their chief medical officers of health. So we'll do more concerted efforts through the existing public health networks, under the Public Health Network, to ensure that provinces are involved.
In terms of costs, we need to look at that very carefully. As we've said before, the level 3 and level 4 laboratories that are already importing pathogens will be very much used to this scheme. There may be some extra costs around containment due to security clearances, that type of thing, that we'd have to take a look at. In terms of level 2s, we're looking at ways to very much minimize these costs and to work closely with stakeholders, moving them forward.
We wouldn't want to say that it's cost-neutral, but we don't necessarily think the cost will be a large amount. I think the stakeholders we've had dialogue with, once they realize what the intent is in terms of program design and regulation, have been less worried about the cost than just seeing the legislation move that forward.
We'd commit to having ongoing discussions with people--ranging anywhere from large universities to provincial governments to individual researchers--so that we can set up a system that will mitigate against increased costs but is still primarily looking at the health and safety of Canadians, first and foremost.