Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
Ministers, welcome to this meeting of the Standing Committee on Health.
My first question is for you, Minister Duclos.
The 2019 budget announced $1 billion over two years starting in 2022‑23, and up to $500 million per year thereafter for the implementation of a national rare disease strategy. However, the 2022‑23 main estimates contain no funds for this initiative, although the measure is included in Health Canada's 2022‑23 departmental plan.
The [government] will also launch a national strategy on drugs for rare diseases and invest up to $1 billion over 2 years to help Canadians with rare diseases access the drugs they need.
Why isn't there any money for it in 2022‑23?
What is the status of this strategy's implementation?