Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Minister, for being here and for your graciousness in forgoing your statement so that we could have a chance to ask you questions.
Minister, of course there are many complex causes of the opioid crisis, but one significant aspect has been largely untouched by the federal government thus far, and that's the role that opioid manufacturers may have played in marketing these products in Canada. There is growing suspicion that drug manufacturers promoted a proliferation of prescription opioid use in Canada over the last two decades through an effort to minimize or conceal the risks of their products.
That conclusion has been proved in American courts. In fact, the U.S. federal justice department has secured criminal convictions, and they have recovered, along with states, almost $1 billion in fines and other costs as a result of violations of the food and drug act.
Last summer the NDP government in B.C. filed a civil lawsuit against drug companies to recoup the enormous costs incurred by that province in addressing the crisis. This week, of course, the Government of Ontario joined that proposed class action.
Minister, here is a simple question. Is your government planning to join that class action against opioid manufacturers?