Thank you.
Thank you, witnesses, for being here.
These discussions about process are certainly to be expected, but I'd like to go back to the principles of the bill. As you know, my friend Ms. Davies points out that there are certain emphases that perhaps different parties put on this kind of exercise, and I don't think that's to be wondered at. There are always balances in how we deal with these issues and, as you know, the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, which would be amended by this legislation, really has a dual purpose, as the minister stated: the protection of public health and the protection of public safety. Some questions put more emphasis on the public health aspect, and some questions put more emphasis on the protection of public safety, but we have to assume that the two are not mutually exclusive, that you can have an “and” to that.
I'm really interested in how the regime that's being put forward would assist the minister in doing an “and” in ensuring the protection of public health and the protection of public safety. The community consultations, of course, are really the public input into this whole process.
How do you see a proper balance being achieved by the process that's being recommended by the bill?