Mr. Pike, the U.S. International Trade Commission in its 2001 investigation into CWB pricing has taken note of the Canadian value-added industry successes. It states that the CWB has been extremely successful in promoting investment in Canadian milling capacity. This is a quote: “Clearly, the Board views the rapid growth in processing as an important policy triumph.” Mr. Easter touched on this with respect to wheat.
There seem to be successes in the barley and malt industry, where we seem to be doing better. Canada malts four times more barley per capita than the U.S., with tremendous growth in western Canada.
I'd like your comments on this. We hear the message that the board is impeding value-added, and yet I'm seeing information to the contrary. What is your take on this?