Thank you very much. Thank you to the witnesses for being here today.
We've had a very interesting discussion about this issue over a number of months now. I have to say that I'm beginning to sense more and more that the issue isn't the array of technological innovation. It's mind-blowing to know what's out there. It's overwhelming.
The issue is who is responsible for ensuring some level access for people. I don't want to use the word “uniformity”. I represent a community where I see people in food lineups a lot. Many of those folks suffer from chronic diseases. These are the folks who probably need some of these innovations the most, but they probably have the least amount of opportunity or access.
How do we get these technologies to people? Is the individual responsible? Is it somebody who is already motivated and into apps and they'll try out a new app? Is it the individual physician, the hospital, the health authority, the province? What is the federal role?
I feel we have to address that if we're to take advantage of these amazing technologies, particularly when it comes to the prevention of chronic diseases that you've all spoken about so well. How will this happen?
It strikes me that one way might be some kind of agreement between the feds and the provinces. The health accords are coming due in 2014. We don't know what's going to happen, but is this an area that should be addressed in terms of technological innovation? It's not the development of it. It seems this is happening pretty well, and I could be wrong on that, but it's how people use it.
Would any of you like to address that? It will help us figure out what we need to do in producing this report, particularly in terms of the federal role.