Thank you, Madam Chairperson.
Thank you, Madam Minister, and all the officials who have come here today. We appreciate your making the time, because obviously we have many important issues to discuss, some of which you've raised in your comments today.
Thank you also for being at the emergency debate we had in the House last night.
I think there is a fundamental question about why the voluntary agreement on drug shortages is not working. I hope we'll have further discussion on that, because clearly the approach the government is taking has not solved the problem, and we have quite a crisis before us.
I want to focus today on two questions to do with health care funding and the regulation of processed foods. If I may, I'd like to put the two question to you.
On the first one, Madam Minister, the premiers have made it very clear that they expect much more from the federal government than a non-negotiable funding package. In fact, the premiers have repeatedly called for a collaborative health care funding process that would uphold the commitments of the 2003-04 accords. Despite your comments today that those commitments have been met, there is still a long way to go even to uphold the 2004 commitments and to ensure accountability.
It's very interesting that the response of the government has been this unilateral decision. We know that you sent a letter to the premiers, but there hasn't been any significant process. There haven't been any meetings jointly, other than the one that took place last year. I think there's a real question about where your leadership is on this issue, because that's what Canadians expect. Why is the federal government, and why are you, as minister, walking away from this collaborative and joint process with the provinces and territories?
My second question has to do with processed foods. Not only have you walked away from talking to the provinces and territories about health care funding, you've also not acted to reduce salt, sugar, and trans fats in our food, despite repeated calls from health care organizations and practitioners.
You might know that the British Medical Journal singled out Canada as blocking an international agreement to reduce salt, sugar, and trans fats in processed foods. It was recently revealed that you personally ended a plan to reduce trans fats in processed foods.
Why are you continually siding with industry rather than looking out for Canadians who are trying to make healthier food choices?