Let me start by indicating that we don't think there are a few difficulties in the industry; we think there are many. There are very difficult and profound issues that really need to be addressed.
The MPC/MPI issue is a symptom and one issue out of many.
Mr. Bellavance, you mentioned article 28, which we've examined as an industry. Of course, the Dairy Farmers of Canada initiated a request for an article 28 over a year ago. At that time, it was an instrument they envisaged being used for a whole host of imported dairy ingredients far beyond MPCs and MPIs. I think it included butter, all sugar blends, and a host of other ingredients.
When we examined it independently as an instrument, after serious examination, we concluded it would not work—now it has been reintroduced as a potential instrument to directly limit imports of MPCs or MPIs, which was confirmed by the minister and Mr. Verheul, our chief agriculture negotiator—because potentially it would only be used against our trading partners outside NAFTA, and MPCs and MPIs would still be imported via the United States. So using that instrument opens up a whole range of problems for the industry.
Our concern is that if an article 28 was proceeded with, there would have to be a negotiation with the Americans. We would be opening up a negotiation on supply management, and we do not want to see that happen. So that's one of our major concerns.