Mr. Speaker, I thank the Minister of Health for being in the House tonight to participate in this very important debate. We certainly need to hear what the federal government is saying about this issue and what has happened over the last few months.
In listening to the minister's speech, I find it incredible that there is no recognition or acknowledgement that the lack of any plan has created this disaster. Does the minister believe that she and her government have properly served the needs of patients in responding to this crisis?
Will she acknowledge that these voluntary measures, the website and sending letters back and forth, simply have not worked? She has given a whole litany of complaints with the company. This is no small player. This is the federal government and the Minister of Health. Surely it raises the question that the lack of a proper reporting mechanism such as we see in other countries has contributed vastly to this crisis.
I would like her to respond to that and reflect on what has taken place over many months now. We were warned of these shortages a long time ago. I would like her to reflect on the so-called plan the government has which simply has not worked. Otherwise, we would not be having this debate tonight.