In the context of emergency preparedness, we know that in an increasingly globalized world, and with climate change, we as a human population are being exposed to more and more novel diseases. They, of course, are mutating. I think the next pandemic is something that we have to keep top of mind.
In our response to COVID-19, as a country, we were having to fight a rearguard action against disinformation and misinformation on vaccines. To some extent, I think that hampered how successful we could have been.
We know that foreign state actors have played a role in advocating some of those disinformation campaigns. We've heard that evidence here at this committee. Looking forward to the next pandemic, when it comes, what lessons have you learned as the Minister of Emergency Preparedness?
In your opening remarks, you said that your mandate is all about taking that proactive approach to managing risks. What lessons have you learned about trying to prevent foreign state actors from interfering and causing those misinformation campaigns, which may very greatly hamper our public health efforts in Canada?