Special Committee on Cooperatives committee  I believe that certainly with regard to supply management, put into a global perspective, there are a number of nations that see the opportunity to access Canadian markets for freer trade as a very important thing. Although we have 34 million to 35 million people, a lot of other

Special Committee on Cooperatives committee  That's correct.

Special Committee on Cooperatives committee  The way the milk marketing board works, and indeed, it's not just in Ontario but in all provinces, is that the first purchaser of the milk is the milk marketing board. In this case, it's the Dairy Farmers of Ontario. The way the market is set up, we own a certain industrial quota

Special Committee on Cooperatives committee  No, Gay Lea is unique, in the sense that we're one of the few dairy cooperatives in Canada that still has open membership, and our membership continues to grow. There is a financial investment you have to make in Gay Lea's cooperative, but our membership is still open and is stil

Special Committee on Cooperatives committee  It will depend on how much milk you produce, but it is three shares, which is $51 per hectolitre. For an average farm with 600,000 litres, it is about $30,000 you have to invest. To put that in context, though, the profits we share back with you over a five-year period pay for ha

Special Committee on Cooperatives committee  Thank you for the question. Using Denmark as the example, and taking two steps back and coming quickly forward, certainly, as many of you may be aware, the milk quota system in Europe under the European Union has been dismantled. Therefore, in all countries, but even more so in

Special Committee on Cooperatives committee  There are two questions in that. First is the role of the federal government, and I think I probably could not put it as well as Denyse Guy did, the executive director of CCA, in the sense that in job creation economics is very important. So that governance model, that initial bu

Special Committee on Cooperatives committee  We have not partaken of the programs that Denyse Guy has referred to. Because we are an established cooperative, we don't really access that support. Where it does impact us, however—and I'll take my example of the grocery store—is that the cooperative sector is going to have to

Special Committee on Cooperatives committee  I could certainly provide that for you. I could specifically point out the pieces in what I call the Canada Cooperatives Act and how it restricts us. I could certainly provide that to you.

Special Committee on Cooperatives committee  Well, I'm at a camp this week with my kids, but I could probably do it when I'm back in the office next week.

Special Committee on Cooperatives committee  Certainly it's a totally democratic process. We have the province divided into four zones. Each of the four zones elects 15 delegates, so we have 60 delegates. Each of the zones elects two directors, and there are two elected at large, so we have a board of 10 directors. It's geo

Special Committee on Cooperatives committee  It is, and on how many members are within each zone as well.

Special Committee on Cooperatives committee  Certainly one of the primary issues that we have is financing growth. As I said earlier, we've invested $170 million, which has come primarily from my members. We have some very aggressive growth targets, and the element we have difficulty with is being able to have the cooperati

Special Committee on Cooperatives committee  Thank you. Certainly for all the examples that I've given you...I've actually travelled to all those countries, and in fact have taken directors as part of our director development program. I have been to Europe, New Zealand, Australia, etc., and I've been able to spend literall

Special Committee on Cooperatives committee  I believe it does have a role to play. Certainly I've been reading articles and magazines as well. I'm not asking you for any favours; I'm just asking for fairness and equity, so that we have the same.... I guess the quick answer is yes.