Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, folks, for coming.
On this issue, Mr. Chair, I think we should cut to the simple fact that we have a system of supply management in the country that works. I'm of the opinion that many of the bureaucracies in Ottawa do not really understand that system and how it works, and that there's a tendency to let the market decide.
Regardless of that fact, the supply management system has brought stability to a number of commodities in the agriculture sector, and in my view, it is a model for rural development that we should be promoting around the world.
But the MPC issue, as it relates to supply management in dairy, could in fact end up destroying the system, because it reduces the amount of market and basically undermines the system.
The original intent was to be able to prevent dairy products from coming in. That can now be broken down into components, and the rules don't apply the same as before.
Each of your departments has been looking at this issue for some time. We have heard the positions of the Dairy Processors Association of Canada and the Dairy Farmers of Canada.
First, I wonder if you could provide us with what you're recommending to your ministers from your various departments.
Second, we have the CITT ruling and the Federal Court of Appeal decision. I'd appreciate knowing what analysis you folks have done on those issues.
I think that will give us the background we need to move forward.