My view would be as follows: in the report of 2002 we wanted an introduction, if I could put it that way, to a national pharmacare plan, mindful of fiscal concerns and mindful also about the capacity or ability of governments and the various agencies of government to be able to accurately assess the efficacy of the drugs involved.
Since that time, which is now 14 years ago—how time flies, Mr. Chairman, when you're having fun—things have changed quite dramatically. I am coming to the view, and I think, perhaps, if I had to redo the report a second time, I would be saying, that we should be moving to a full-scale deal that covers people's demands.
I'm going to cite one little figure here, and I think you received this submission earlier. We looked at it. It was submitted, I think, on April 18, 2016, by Marc-André Gagnon of Carleton University. Total per capita prescription drug expenditures from 2000 to 2012 in the United States were $1010, and in Canada $865. All the rest follows. We're right up there.
I think the urgency now is more pronounced than it was 14 years ago.