Thank you very much.
Thanks for being here this morning.
We're doing a review, and we're trying to improve the system to make it easier for our producers to have a level field with those they compete with in the world. We've heard over and over again, “Why can't we use these products? They can use them there, and yet we're importing their food.” You know, that whole story. We know that sometimes we don't have a level playing field, because we have various organizations such as the WTO and NAFTA, which often make it difficult for us to institute a buy-Canadian policy in our institutions. We've seen that response from the government to our recommendation to the reports. In other words, we have all these trade challenges that we have to be careful of when we're doing business.
There is a growing number of Canadians who are worried about what they call the security and prosperity partnership, which in a nutshell is advocating more or less a complete harmonization of all aspects of our economies, not only agriculture, but other aspects of our life. A number of people are concerned. They see that often this means, or can mean, a lowering of standards, and of course there are health concerns.
The question is, if in part this can be the case when we're looking at various products for our farmers and for Canadians, how we get a balance where we keep in mind that we have to look at health concerns, but at the same time ensure that we can assist our producers to get that level playing field.
The fruit growers in my area have mentioned to me that there are actually better products that are more environmentally sound that Americans are using, that are better for the environment and for health, that we can't get here, and we have to use the old ones that are more damaging. So this is the other way where harmonizing would be better.
So I guess my question is, do we have a certain standard that we say this is it, when we're doing this--we're not going to get below this? Does this fit in not only with what's happening in North America, but does it address some of the standards that are in Europe, for example, in the European Union, which often, in regard to pesticide residue levels, are higher than what we have? How do you come up with an answer that meets the needs of our producers, that meets the needs of the health of Canadians? I'm just wondering if you could maybe shed some light on this. These are questions I'm thinking of and people are asking me.