I will answer that question.
The commitment of the member companies of Rx&D was indeed to raise the average ratio of research to sales to 10% before 1996. We actually fulfilled that commitment in 1993. We met the target, and it continued to increase to almost 12% or 13% in 1997-1998, after which it began to drop. But, averaged over the last 19 years, the ratio exceeds 10%. The exact figure is 10.17%.
The environment in which we work has changed a great deal in recent years. There have been regulatory challenges, such as market access because of the drug review, or the price freeze that was imposed, and they have changed the situation. At the same time, other countries have been able to attract more research dollars by changing their regulatory approaches as well as their patent protection programs. Our member countries are trying worldwide to attract those dollars, but they are having difficulty doing so because, as a result of the changes, the Canadian market is less appealing. Nevertheless, we maintained our average at 10.17%. We want to increase that average and to change the situation. The decline is explained by the changes in the regulatory framework in recent years.
As an example, I should mention that the changes Quebec made to its drug program very quickly brought in $650 million in investments. So you see the direct impact of regulatory changes. The recent change caused the drop. So there is a way to level the playing field, and that is what we are suggesting. We want to become partners and good ambassadors for Canada internationally and we want to attract those new dollars.