I just want to make sure that I understand and that we have the right information.
The drafting of the federal framework on Lyme disease was undertaken a year ago. The final framework is now being prepared. But people are worried about what they saw in the draft report. I can understand that concern, but, at the same time, I feel that people are judging the content of a report that does not reflect the final framework. People are asking that the process be delayed, so that we can get involved in the drafting of the report. Yet who are we to do that? I personally don't feel in the least like an expert on Lyme disease. However, people are already judging that report. I think it is somewhat presumptuous for our committee to want to get involved in the process to influence the content of a report that has not yet even been made public. Never mind the fact that the House of Commons unanimously passed the resolution to develop that federal framework within a set time frame and that, currently, not only are we at the eleventh hour, but we have almost exceeded the time frame.
However, nothing prevents us from carrying out a study on Lyme disease afterwards, in response to the so-called final consultation report, even though I feel that nothing in life is ever final. We are seeing that in the thalidomide case. We want to review the contribution program for thalidomide survivors. The committee will probably make suggestions for changes to be made to the existing criteria. We will see where our discussion will take us. I believe we should do the same with the report on Lyme disease.
Thank you.