I found this last part of the discussion interesting, because the Canadian Wheat Board, as we know, was never put in place by producers. There was no plebiscite, and you certainly wouldn't get 66% support for maintaining it. I found it interesting that your marketing boards are required to reach 66% in order to be established and maintained. I know that even the latest Wheat Board survey shows that 54% of farmers wanted change, so we know a majority in western Canada would like to see changes to the system.
I should also express, and I think André was trying to be a little mischievous here, that the Conservative Party has been clear in its support for the supply management system, and that will continue. We were also clear in the election campaign that we were going to move to marketing choice for the Canadian Wheat Board. Our policy has been clear; we've been consistent with it, and I think you can count on us to continue to be that way.
Wayne made a comment earlier about the fact that he doesn't like some of the figures that are used. He talks about how we use probably, probably, probably. I wanted to correct you on one of the numbers you used as well, because I think we're getting some of this on both sides of the issue. When people talk about the benefit to the Wheat Board, we've had a variety of figures. We've had $200 million per year, we've had $500 million, and now we hear $525 million to $565 million. We've had $820 million; and you brought a new high of $852 million, I think you said, in your presentation. I guess we'll soon expect someone to hit $1 billion on the anticipated figures.
In reality, I think Mr. Penner is probably more accurate when he's talking about the fact that there is a huge cost in western Canada. We're looking at 15,000 to 20,000 jobs in value-added development. We don't have up to $2 billion a year on the value-added side of things. We've heard in other areas of the committee that the KVD system--our grading system, which does not apply in Ontario and Quebec--costs us somewhere between $100 million and $400 million as well. The direct costs to the Wheat Board, according to George Morris again, are $15 to $22 a tonne. There is money being thrown around on both sides of this, but clearly there would be huge benefits to western Canadian farmers if we can make some changes.
I think Mr. Bilodeau said we don't want to throw the baby out with the bathwater. Mr. Penner, you work under the Wheat Board. Can the Wheat Board survive as one option in a western Canadian marketing choice environment?