Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you to all the witnesses for being with us.
My question is to Mr. Herder.
In your letter, you stated that you believe the Minister of Health undermined the board's independence. However, subsection 5 of section 96 of the Patent Act states that the PMPRB must consult with the various parties, including the Minister of Health. Before that issuance of any guidelines, this requirement to consult and who must be consulted was also highlighted in the letter published on March 3, 2023, by the former acting chairperson.
How can you say that the minister undermined the board's independence in light of the requirements of consulting in the Patent Act?