Thank you, Mr. Chair, and welcome, folks.
I have just three quick points and two questions.
I think the facts are clear in terms of the difficulties for you, the tobacco producers, in the communities.
Secondly, this is not a normal market situation. It's really government policy--in terms of the drive to get rid of smoking--that's driving you out of business, and I think driving the country away from a safer tobacco, because there's no question that the tobacco that's being smoked now by those who smoke is not as healthy as the Canadian brand was. You don't know what impurities are in some of this imported stuff. That's point two.
Point three is that there's no question that what happens as you go out of business is that there will be an impact on other agriculture commodities and on the industry players. I don't think there's any question about that.
My questions, really, are these. First and foremost, I think the Minister of Agriculture is in a difficult spot--I'll give him that much--in that this is a result of government policy as a whole, enforcing an imposition on what's seen as an agricultural problem, when it really should be seen as a general government problem. It should be the Minister of Finance, and not just Chuck Strahl, addressing this issue.
On your proposals going forward, do we have agreement on a plan from the vast majority of producers, including those in Quebec, including the Farmers in Crisis, and including the tobacco board? Do we have, number one, an agreement on a plan--I mean the plan to exit, or to stay in and get out over time? And do we have, number two, included in that research and development that's needed to get into alternatives, including forestry or whatever? Is there community support, or can it be determined whether there's community support for that plan?