The U.S. refining industry is very big and the Canadian refining industry is smaller, but the Canadian refining industry can produce at the same cost as the U.S. We beat them and we export, even though we're smaller. So you have an example of an industry that, albeit smaller, is not just competitive, it's better than the U.S. refining industry.
Let's project that to ethanol. First, you need to build plants of the scale that can compete with the U.S. That's pretty clear.
In terms of NAFTA, unfortunately, the U.S. started their policy long before we started discussing this here. So in this case you're going to have to adjust to what's already there. That's a fact of life. If you don't adjust your agricultural policies, these members will buy their grain in the U.S. unless you erect barriers, and you cannot, politically or by fair treaty. So it's a question of adjusting. It doesn't mean spending and matching them dollar for dollar; we can be much more creative.
Where I think Canada could have an edge is where Jesse has been making an eloquent pitch for the development of new technologies. Iogen is Canadian. Most of the work done on users of biodiesel and the energy company he's talking about are Canadian companies or Canadian affiliates. Canada has a long history of developing technologies ahead of the U.S., from the telephone on. But you have to look beyond 2010.
Let's do something for 2010. Beyond 2010, what can you do to encourage the development of Canadian technology? And with all due respect to your committee, I'm surprised the federal ministry of industry is not involved. Agriculture is involved; environment is involved; you're involved; that's totally appropriate. Where is the federal agency that is supposed to look at new technologies, competitiveness, etc? I think they should also be at the table and they should look beyond 2010. We can beat the U.S. beyond 2010. Between now and then I would suggest if you want a national policy, you need to adjust to what they've been doing so we will remain competitive.
Would you agree, Kory?