Initially I will just clarify that my earlier comments about the Health Council and the work of HEAL referred to the work prior to the Health Council being established. In other words, what we were lobbying for was the same sort of mechanism we're talking about here today. In fact, we're saying that the Health Council did not meet our needs in that regard. This is not to take away from the good work they've been trying to do, but it is a different body than we would envision.
In terms of the politics of the situation, I know everyone is chomping at the bit to speak to that. All I would say is that the Health Council is that political body that perhaps you're referring to, and we see it as not being the full picture and not able to do what we think needs to be done. We believe there is a need for a body separate from the political process, certainly with connections, but separate and inclusive of the other voices that need to be part of understanding the problem and the solution, and hopefully able, frankly, to transcend the politics.
One thing I neglected to mention when I referred to the EICP initiative is that it certainly had political involvement, because it was funded through Health Canada, through the federal government. However, the work was carried out by the health provider associations, and we are able to transcend political barriers. To see the progress made even in the understanding in the work amongst those health professions was really quite remarkable over the two and a half years of the project. So we feel that this body that we envision needs to be outside the overt political influence, perhaps, that currently exists.
I'll leave it at that. As I say, I know my colleagues wish to jump into the conversation.