Mr. Speaker, according to the Minister of Industry, the federal government apparently wants to review the drug-patent law. This legislation extended to 20 years, need we remind you, the protection offered to patented drugs and led to the announcement that nearly $1 billion would be invested in research and development in Quebec by 1996. By the year 2000, the total value of investment projects could reach $5 billion in Canada.
Does the minister admit that it is because of pressure from lobbyists representing the interests of generic-drug companies, mainly concentrated in Toronto, that he is about to review the drug-patent legislation?