Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Thank you, gentlemen, for coming here. I'm going to ask all my questions and then let you answer them.
Your report states that the grain sector is at a crossroads. Of course, one of the things it mentions is biofuels, which I had mentioned earlier, and I think it's an important part of this process. Animal feed grain, and with it the ethanol that's basically low protein, that kind of thing, which is the opposite of what we're using for human consumption.... Basically, there's going to be a transition in there for government through the market and this kind of thing. I'd like to know how long you think that transition will take.
When it comes to research undertaken by the Grain Research Laboratory, it's probably going to require government funding. I'd like to know what you think the cost to the government is going to be. Basically, it's a cost that's attributed to modernizing the Canadian Grain Commission.
On another item, our high quality of grains are recognized worldwide. Can we ensure that a reform of the agency that's responsible for this quality won't raise concerns among our trade partners around the world? We don't want to lose our place globally that way.
Also, do other countries that import and export grains have a similar agency like the Canadian Grain Commission? Can you give us some examples?