Thank you, Senator.
First, I want to thank our witnesses for being with us today to share their views and speak to the committee about a very sensitive issue.
I'm brand new to the committee, and in the little testimony I've heard so far, one of the things that's come through is the lack of consensus. Some health professionals are saying that they're ready, that the rules and guidelines are in place, whereas others are telling us that they aren't ready. Some are saying they have the capacity to provide the service, while others are saying they don't.
Dr. Gandham, I very much appreciate that you recognize the gravity of mental illness and what a very serious condition it is for some Canadians. I also appreciate how candid you were, explaining that while the issue deserves serious consideration, you personally believe we still aren't ready and you don't agree with moving forward.
I want to step back a bit and ask all of you this question: Regardless of our capacity to handle these requests or develop guidelines to ensure that the process is carried out properly, do you think Canadians are ready for MAID in this context?
You can go first, Dr. Gandham.