Mr. Speaker, while there is a new twist of potential drug shortages due to recent events, the threat of shortages is not new, nor is it limited to Canada. Drug shortages are a challenge globally, and Canada is not immune. It is a situation the Minister of Health has been working to rectify in a number of ways and has made it her top priority.
Health Canada is working with governments around the world to draw on experiences and identify opportunities for meaningful action to reduce the impact of drug shortages and prevent them from reoccurring in Canada. We are also working with provincial and territorial governments, health care professionals and industry to see that Canadians are better informed about the shortages so they have time to plan and change treatments, if necessary.