Finance committee  Yes.

Finance committee  Yes.

Finance committee  I appreciate the question. I think what you're referring to is the proposal with cost recovery. What we've seen with cost recovery is an example of unchecked powers from the minister, who has gone forth and proposed a cost recovery plan, when Health Canada did not complete a gender-based analysis and did not complete a risk-based analysis and did not consult with indigenous communities.

Finance committee  We believe that it is in the best interest of Canadians to have products that are reviewed and licensed by Health Canada. Unfortunately, with all the proposed changes, what they have not addressed is the importation from international markets, all of which are unregulated and unmonitored by Health Canada.

Finance committee  That's correct.

Finance committee  We are aware of several states that have reached out to our member companies directly and are proposing reduced taxes and other incentives. At least two of our member companies have made the decision to relocate to the U.S.

Finance committee  They're extremely concerned. To be blunt, they're feeling quite hopeless about a future in which they'd see themselves being able to provide these products to Canadians. The conditions are just so detrimental to them that they don't feel it would be viable, moving forward.

Finance committee  I appreciate the question. They are safe. The reason we say so is that Health Canada currently has a very robust regulatory framework. All products Canadians see on a shelf with a natural health product number have been reviewed by Health Canada. All the scientific evidence or any concerns about ingredients and contraindications are reviewed and approved today by Health Canada.

Finance committee  Thank you, Chair, for the question. I will pass that to my colleague, Laura Gomez.

Finance committee  Good morning. Thank you, Chair and members of this committee, for having me here today. My name is Aaron Skelton. I'm the president and CEO of the Canadian Health Food Association, a trade association representing natural health, organic and wellness products in Canada. I am grateful to have the opportunity to speak before you today on behalf of not just our member companies but also the 82% of Canadians who use natural health products as part of their health and well-being.

Health committee  Thank you very much for the question. We know first-hand through our engagement that a significant portion of businesses would be financially unviable. Those businesses employ Canadians and service other Canadians. Products on the shelf would be drastically reduced and the prices of the products that remain would go up.

Health committee  I think I would reference back to the congratulations to this committee for the work that was done in 1998 and 2004 on the extensive consultation—hundreds of testimonies and patient groups—and then to the complete lack of engagement on this one. We didn't hear about cost recovery until May 11, and it was gazetted on May 12.

Health committee  That would be from 2020 to the current date.

Health committee  I appreciate the question. The answer is, no, it does nothing to address the potential.

Health committee  The underpinning narrative is this: The industry is very open to conveying information in the clearest, most easily understood format. That's accepted across the industry. What is challenged is that we're not embracing modern labelling solutions. You mentioned a few. There are others we can uncover.