Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I will be brief. After 25 or 30 years of professional and practical experience, I can say that the same problem still exists today, 25 years later. It might even be worse since it is on the rise. The bandaid solutions that were used 10, 15 or 20 years ago no longer work. Yet it seems that more of the same thing is being done all the time to try to fix the problem.
We hear about multidisciplinary and intervention teams as part of a preventative approach. What are we waiting for to have a Betty Ford Centre, as you mentioned, Dr. Ujjainwalla?
Over all this time, what has been the impact of your work with respect to government action? For my part, I have been here for barely a year. Actually, yesterday was my one-year anniversary and I am very happy to be here. Seeing all of this, though, I have to wonder what kind of world we live in.
I think I know part of the answer. I think it costs less to use bandaid solutions, to close one's eyes and say that the last five years went smoothly.
Mr. Lévesque, I think you are part of this bandaid approach. I do not mean to criticize your approach. It is extremely important because it can save lives in the short term. Yet it does not solve the problem.
Would it be wrong to say it is a vicious circle? You talked about water and a lifeguard. We might rescue someone, but we know they will swim again. Yet if the person does not know how to swim because they have not been taught, their problem has not been solved.
What should we do? There is the political aspect and the financial aspect. There are limits to everything, but what should we do? What must the government recommend in this regard? I will give you a minute or two to answer these questions.