International Trade committee  I think it goes back to having real federal leadership to begin with. I see negotiations around a national pharmacare program, the same type of negotiations that we had when we brought in medicare. Not all the provinces were happy about it; not all the provinces saw a need for it.

International Trade committee  I think it all depends, again, on the ability of the leadership to come together and come to some joint agreement around a very important issue. When you have 91% of Canadians saying that they want this national pharmacare program, then the politicians need to be responsive to that want and need.

International Trade committee  That's what we have been asking for. Around 91% of Canadians support a national pharmacare program. However, the reason we support a national pharmacare program is that it will lower the costs, but if the TPP is implemented, we're not going to see the kind of savings we were hoping to see under a national pharmacare program.

International Trade committee  That's what I'm trying to get across, the fact that's not happening at the speed that we need it to be happening. When we only have 5% being invested in those new drugs outside of Canada, then it becomes a problem because we're not going to see real movement in our being able to access new drugs.

International Trade committee  Provincially, at least in Alberta, we're trying to lower the cost of drugs by bringing in—

International Trade committee  For sure.

International Trade committee  But drugs are the highest-cost—

International Trade committee  Actually, in Alberta right now, the two highest cost factors in our health care system are drugs and physician compensation. What we're trying to do is actually be able to provide our populace with the right amounts of drugs so that we can do that preventative work when it comes to keeping people out of hospitals.

International Trade committee  The guarantee on investment is the point of dispute here, and that's something they do use to try and sell this TPP. Right now, in Canada, we have eight-year patent protection and so forth. What we don't need is a longer protection period so that the investment can happen. I think companies have a right to make a return on whatever investment they make, but you're talking about pharmaceuticals that could potentially....

International Trade committee  I think it does the opposite. I don't believe that would be the case. If we make it longer, they would have more control over the price, and the supply as well. When you give them that possibility of protecting their investment for a longer period of time, that's what becomes a problem in terms of our getting to the point where generic drugs can be developed, or bio-similar drugs can be developed as well.

International Trade committee  I think you're right. We're always looking for something new that could potentially save a life. The problem that I talked about in my presentation is that the investment in research and development is not there. The pharmaceutical companies made a pledge to invest 10% of their sales in developing new drugs and research and development, but that's not happening.

International Trade committee  Thank you. Good morning, Mr. Chair and committee members. Thank you for allowing us to take part in this very important discussion. Since 1979, Friends of Medicare have been advocating for an improved and expanded universal health care system here in Alberta and nationally with our partners in the Canadian Health Coalition.