Madam Chair, I will attempt to answer this question.
First off, I must say that the increase in resources allocated to this board is due to an increase in the workload. The workload has changed considerably over the last few years. For quite a long time, most regulations were not challenged, but recently we have noticed that there has been an increase in the number of investigations being challenged.
Last year, for instance, the board held four hearings. Today, there are nine hearings underway, three of which are at the decision-making state. There has been a significant change in the nature of the work and in the workload, justifying this increase.
The board's mandate, since its inception in 1986 or 1987, was to review the prices of patented medicines, as well as to provide information on the price of drugs. We believe the board is acting within its mandate.