Agriculture committee  Just to be clear, Mr. Chairman, no one on the panel this afternoon said we didn't want ad hoc programs. We said we want long-term programs that bring predictability to an industry that in Canada is carrying in excess of $46 billion of debt and in Ontario employs 755,000 people.

Agriculture committee  If I may, Mr. Chairman, I think everybody--and I'm sure you heard this at all of your committee hearings--knows the problem in our industry is that there are a lot of people with a lot of grey hair, and it's not us we have to worry about. You need to bring predictability into that next generation as they are doing these leveraged buyouts, because ultimately you and I would like to retire at some point.

Agriculture committee  Thank you, Mr. Chairman. George Brinkman's numbers will support that 1971, 1972, and 1973 were the best years Canadian agriculture ever had, the days when you could buy an acre of land for a tonne of corn. The reality we're in today is a different reality. We're struggling to put together the tools we need to make the most of the challenges and the opportunities in the marketplace today.

Agriculture committee  It is a dismal reflection on Canadian agriculture when 116% of net farm income comes from the treasury. But it also points out, as you're suggesting, that there is a matrix of farm programs in the U.S. that the U.S. Farm Bill is only a part of. U.S. agricultural programming goes into every different department of the United States--the State Department or the White House in Washington.

Agriculture committee  It has consumed probably most of my time through the winter months, because our position is that with 209 commodities in the province, we need sector-specific solutions that don't come at the expense or at the cost of another sector. So Art Smith is here, and horticulture and the tender fruit industry have developed a suite of programs that work for their producers, sector-specific solutions.

Agriculture committee  Thank you. Just for the record, we need to be clear that George Brinkman's study numbers were referring to net farm income numbers.

Agriculture committee  Thank you. When we look at business risk management planning tools, especially on the income side, crop insurance does work in partnership with the federal government. But unfortunately, there are no companion programs available to Ontario producers. Ontario looks to the federal government for leadership, which is a terrible thing to have to live through and a terrible environment to farm in.

Agriculture committee  Thank you. I hope you don't interpret my comments as supporting Agricorp. My provincial minister is suitably upset with me because of my comments around Agricorp and instructing her and the chair of the public accounts committee to audit Agricorp for the very reasons that you've pointed out.

Agriculture committee  Thank you. First, I'll apologize to the vice-chair and the translator. I was fairly quick going through my opening comments. To answer the second question first, third party delivery is as simple as this. Everyone recognizes that the most expensive form of program delivery is at the federal government.

Agriculture committee  Good afternoon. Thank you very much for the opportunity to appear before the Commons Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food. I think I'm more of a free spirit, but because this is for the public record, I will keep my comments fairly close to my prepared text. It is of no surprise to you.