Thank you very much.
Let me pose a question that you as new directors probably will be faced with. My understanding is, and I'm reminded every time I see a news release from the Canadian Wheat Board, that all returns except for the cost of marketing go to the farmers. I would hope then that when the discussion comes up around the board table about more trips to Geneva..... We've seen multiple trips to Geneva by board members, by staff, not to sell grain, I'm quite sure. I would stand corrected if someone could provide me sales affidavits where sales were actually made in Geneva of wheat and barley. These costs were not costs of marketing, these costs were defending the monopoly internationally. Add to that Seattle ministerial, Doha ministerial, Hong Kong, Cancun. Many board directors, many staff, doubt that there was much wheat sold there either.
I find it very offensive that every press release says that all the money except for the cost of marketing is returned to farmers. That cost was a cost of defending the monopoly. I would hope that both of you as new directors will take this into consideration when that discussion comes up around the board table.
Mr. Motiuk, I know that you've been recognized as a pea producer. I've never been able to match your canola yields up in that country. What should be any different for you about marketing your wheat than you have marketing your canola, or your peas, or your feed barley? Can you explain the difference, why a monopoly buyer of your product of wheat and barley could gain you any more advantage over what you have in selling your canola, or your oats, or your peas?