Thanks, Mr. Chair.
It's a real conundrum that we're dealing with. It seems that in supply management the producer is a factor in the price that they're going to get for their commodity. Things seem to be going fairly well. If you look at the other areas, then you find that it seems to be price that most people are complaining about. If you look at all the inputs, costs, and returns, everybody concentrates on price as the cause of their problem.
I'd like to ask a question about CAIS's bureaucracy. It's a very expensive program in terms of needing bookkeepers and accountants. I've heard complaints, and maybe we'd like to get something on the record.
Also, regarding the bureaucrats, most recognize that within the public service today, senior departmental managers do not have to have agricultural experience. Maybe the person ran a DFO office and suddenly becomes an assistant deputy minister, because it's simply a case of being a good manager. Maybe he ran a prison down here in Nova Scotia, and then they put him in as an assistant deputy minister. This is happening.
Mr. MacFarlane, you were going to fire one for every farmer who lost his farm.
Also, Mr. Harding, you referred to this. Are you getting good cooperation, good understanding, from our federal bureaucracy when you deal with them? Or is it simply that they know everything and don't seem to understand much about farming, and you can't seem to relate to them?
I think Darlene is ready to answer that.
To me, to give you money and then want it back, this is kind of a....