Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Minister, we've heard the opposition members' criticisms related to the supply of medical isotopes. We can all agree this is a serious issue. We also agree that many officials within the government, as well as the nuclear medicine officials, have been working to help mitigate the supply concerns.
Since the NRU went down in May, and even before that, our government had developed a consistent strategy for ensuring a reliable supply of isotopes for Canadian patients. It included informing AECL that its top priority was bringing the NRU back in service, working with the health community to encourage and assist better use of existing supplies as well as alternatives, and leading the call for and chairing the OECD's high-level group on the security of supply of medical isotopes, which has resulted in increased sources of supply as well as better supply chain coordination.
Can you tell the committee what results have come from this strategy and what steps you have taken to ensure a steady supply of medical isotopes for Canadians in the near term as well as the long term?