Health committee  I don't think any particular researcher or research finds were ignored in the framework. The framework, in a sense, is higher level. It doesn't get into pointing out any individual piece of research or research findings. It really maps out, in broad strokes, the way forward, recognizing that there are many different types of research already out there involving surveillance activities, diagnostics, and so on, and that as we move forward we need to be open-minded to basically receive and look at all the types of research there are without ignoring anything that could be of value.

Health committee  NSERC was involved in the development of the framework. Our closest partner in terms of human health research is CIHR, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, but we'll certainly engage other federal departments, as appropriate, as we go forward with the research agenda.

Health committee  Personally, I couldn't give you that kind of estimate. I would defer to my experts who work in laboratory science. As we put out in the framework, we do need to improve testing. Our national microbiology laboratory and the other members of the Canadian Public Health Laboratory Network are well positioned.

Health committee  Thank you very much for your question. Yes, we work closely with the CDC and also with other public health organizations throughout the world, such as the one in the U.K. What I will say is that when we look at the evidence, as the U.S. CDC has also done, we look at the preponderance of evidence in terms of the types of guidance put forward.

Health committee  Yes, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is at the national level, in a sense our counterpart in the U.S, as are such other similar public organizations as the Health Protection Agency in the U.K. We use the same laboratory diagnostic standards. The other types of testing you're referring to are offered, as I mentioned, by private laboratories in the U.S.

Health committee  No, I wouldn't say that. First of all, I'll make a couple of points. Health care, as we know and as I mentioned in my opening remarks, is the responsibility of the individual provinces and territories. It's their jurisdiction, and therefore it's difficult for the federal government to intervene in what is a provincial and territorial responsibility.

Health committee  The funding priority, as I think is mentioned in the framework, is going to be directed toward research, and I think that patients, other stakeholders, physicians, professionals, public health authorities, and others who attended all agreed that further research needs to be done.

Health committee  I will say that it's true, as many have said, that laboratory tests currently in use could be improved. Certainly the current tests are more valid in diagnosing infection some time after the infection occurs and sometimes not in the early stages. However, having said that, the diagnostic methods we use in Canada are the same as those developed and used by the U.S.

Health committee  With respect to the question about transmission through pregnancy, as I said before, one of the things that everyone is looking for is answers to questions such as this. I go back to the fact that science takes time. There is something called the scientific method that has been well established as a principle for natural science research since the 17th century.

Health committee  I could go on about a number of research gaps. Certainly I would defer to other experts in the field. We'll be working closely with our colleagues at the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and also with researchers and stakeholders, as mentioned before, to determine what the research agenda should be.

Health committee  Thank you very much. Members of the committee, thank you for the opportunity to contribute to your deliberations on the federal framework on Lyme disease. I would also like to take this opportunity to acknowledge and thank the witnesses who spoke here on Tuesday, as well as the witnesses and members here today for contributing to raising awareness and supporting Canadians with Lyme disease.

Health committee  It's just due to a scheduling conflict. I'm also the deputy chief public health officer, just below Dr. Tam. If that suffices, I'd be pleased to speak.