We brought along an example of my drug order sent in on Saturday. We ordered 111 products; 33 of them were short. This is not even a list of all the items we would use. We're short, currently, about 60 molecules. Every time I hear about a busload coming up here from the U.S.... I know they need medication, but we are having supply problems here, right now, and we need to understand that's what's happening. If any of the committee members were to go to their pharmacy today and ask them if they are having supply issues with any drugs, they would get a story from their pharmacist. It's happening right across Canada. I have friends across Canada who run pharmacies; it's the same story all across Canada.
We want to get this supply issue under control. When there is a product shortage, we have quite a lot of work to do today as pharmacists. In Alberta we prescribe; we substitute product. A lot of pharmacists in Canada cannot prescribe; they have to send the patient back to the physician. It gets to be quite burdensome work to get these patients through the system.
So when I hear about pharmacare coming, about more control or cheaper product, I cannot believe what is happening here already.
Regarding sales to the States in the future, I believe we have to get our product under control here in Canada. If we can be assured of supply, and can get supply, I'm in favour of it. I realize we have to trade with the States.