I would like to add something to that.
A thoughtful question was asked about the political role here. I would implore this committee to consider that what you're doing right now is a tremendously important politically. You are thinking not only about what the end state should look like, but also about the hurdles involved in the transition .
One thing that those of you who work every day in both capital āPā and small āpā politics will understand is how to smell the interests in this conversation. We should not be afraid to have a conversation in Canada about where those interests reside and why some groups will be coming before your committee to present you with things that are not science but are dressed up as science in an attempt to serve their own interests.
I know many pharmacists understand the evidence, and I know many pharmacists go to work every day to try to defend health for Canadian patients. As a regulated health professional, however, I can tell you that had my association put forward a critique that flew so blatantly in the face of scientific inquiry, they would have heard from me as a member. I suspect that if you were to ask the Canadian Pharmacists Association whether they have heard from their members on this paper, you might hear some interesting answers.
I think it is important for us all to be grownups about this. We have to understand that there's a lot of money in the drug industry in Canada and that there are always going to be winners and losers in every transition.
We need to look to you as political leaders to show leadership in the politics of the transition. No one is better placed to do that than our elected political officials. That is something that is difficult for those of us who are at the front line of the health care system and in academia to do, but that's where you can really excel.