Health committee  That's correct.

Health committee  Thank you Madam. Health Canada retains primary responsibility for this program. The Department is responsible for tobacco control initiatives and for promoting smoking cessation programs.

Health committee  We at the Agency are of course mindful of the harmful affects of tobacco and this ties in with our responsibilities in terms of preventing chronic illnesses. However, Health Canada continues to be responsible for the federal government anti-smoking initiatives.

Health committee  Precisely.

Health committee  That's right.

Health committee  That's correct, Madam. The Agency's budget for the current fiscal year provides for 2,119 FTEs and $505.4 million in appropriations. Some Health Canada resources were transferred over to the Public Health Agency of Canada when it was created in 2004. The government subsequently allocated additional resources to the Agency for various programs, in particular, programs to prepare for pandemics, to promote health initiatives and to prevent chronic illnesses.

Health committee  I don't have the figures with me.

Health committee  I can provide committee members with an analysis of the budget and staff increases at the Agency since its inception. This analysis was prepared to assist the committee in its review of the Agency's budget. Details are provided of the largest increases.