Thank you, Madam Chair.
It is a real honour to be here with you. This is the first time I have had the opportunity to be on the Standing Committee on Health.
This is a day for incredible coincidences. I just completed a document for my constituents that was exclusively delegated to health, and it's the first day I get to meet Dr. Ling, though we've spoken many times.
It's also the first day, Dr. Ling, that I actually pulled out my Terry Fox shirt that Judith Fox gave me before going to Taiwan, a carbon copy of which I presented to President Ma Ying-jeou in Taiwan. He is very supportive of the Terry Fox institute. He in fact led the Terry Fox run in Taiwan for many years until it had its last episode a few years ago. He wants to get it going again.
So I'm very pleased to meet you. On behalf of I think everybody here, we're all very proud of Terry Fox and his memory. We're delighted that you're part of extending that.
You talked about a virtual organization. It's pretty good that you've in fact attracted almost $600 million for a virtual organization and continue to innovate.
In a world where we tend to judge people and organizations on their experience, or their education, or their balance sheets, your emphasis is on collaboration—international. When I was in Taiwan, I learned of four scientists who are working with the Terry Fox institute, in Taiwan, on lung cancer, leukemia, and I believe, liver cancer.
To what extent are we Canadians innovating in the way we use our relationships, both in Canada and around the world? How much of a unique thing is that?