Mr. Speaker, the member's question does get right to the heart of the issue.
It is interesting when we are talking about a disease specific strategy to focus on what this strategy would actually do, particularly when we are looking at the prevention aspect. I will focus on prevention again and say that it is very difficult to see how a comprehensive, disease specific strategy dealing with particular lifestyle factors would actually not benefit us in regard to a number of other diseases.
If we could find a way to make this particular disease specific strategy a leader in Canada, I would suggest that we would be probably be able to impact on a number of other factors. Not only would it end up saving costs in the health care system and benefiting us around economic productivity, but we could become a national leader in developing strategies, research and other tools for dealing with this strategy.
Why are we not there? That is a very good question. Over the last several months, we have heard a number of times about how good work has been done on any number of issues, and certainly the cancer prevention strategy is a very good example of significant amounts of work that have been done. We have seen this in other areas such as employment equity and violence against women, where we have the studies and the reports and we have done the consultation. What is lacking is the political will and a commitment to moving some of these initiatives forward.
Many people are becoming quite cynical about hearing things announced in budgets and throne speeches yet not actually seeing any real action as a result. This would be a chance to have some real action.