Thank you, Mr. Chair.
We've been holding consultations since late 2006. We've been hearing a lot of the same thematic areas, if you will, or the same issues that you've been hearing. Certainly the whole idea of giving importance to the domestic market has been a prevalent idea.
As we're evolving the work along with the industry in terms of developing the next framework, we're going to be looking at some of those key areas, including how to better connect the knowledge of the consumer with what's being produced in Canada. We have to understand that about 70% of what Canadians consume is produced in Canada. There's already a high degree of correlation between what Canadians eat and what's produced in Canada.
So we obviously have to do a much better job of sharing information collectively--not just governments but industry as well, working together with provinces and the industry--and making sure there's a better understanding of the food system in Canada, looking at the kind of initiatives we have in place that will assist the industry in sharing that information with the sector, and doing more branding in terms of Canadian products and Canadian product attributes.
All of these ideas are being taken fully into consideration. We've just finished two large rounds of consultation across the country. We've received input from over 3,000 farmers and stakeholders who have a direct interest in the sector. We're just in the throes of reflecting on this information. As we prepare to make recommendations to ministers on how to move the framework, we are taking into consideration a number of these points that have been raised.