Thank you for being here and for the work that you're doing.
I want to reiterate what Dr. Hanley said about what's working and what's not working. Clearly, what we're doing isn't working. I like the idea of not only talking about models of innovation and success, but also using sound data so that we have evidence-based decision-making and policies that are going to respond to this crisis.
One thing we heard from doctors at the beginning, in 2016, when B.C. declared a public health emergency, was that they were calling for the federal government to also declare a national public health emergency. Can you explain why that hasn't happened?
The reason, and you've heard me talk about this many times—I met with all of you on this panel—is the need for a plan and a timeline, and that is not in the renewed Canadian drugs and substances strategy. It was something I outlined in Bill C-216, which was defeated by the Conservatives and most Liberals. That would have provided a timeline. That bill directed government to provide a timeline and a plan.
Why has no national public health emergency been declared?