Thank you, Mr. Chair, and welcome, Minister.
Although you said you and I might get into the Canadian Wheat Board, I do not intend to get into the Canadian Wheat Board issue today. It is before the courts. I think it's fair to say that you had 13.8% support for your position; that's not adequate. But definitely, the previous minister, the Prime Minister, you, the parliamentary secretary to natural resources, and a few others on the government side have shown absolute contempt for Parliament by ignoring the motions in Parliament and reports that came from this committee, and have shown absolute contempt for the courts in the way you're handling that issue. That's all I'll say on the matter.
The most urgent issue at the moment, no question about it, is the crisis facing the hog and beef industry. We're losing producers daily. We haven't been getting any answers from you, sir, in the House. I would hope you could answer more specifically today. I will say this in the beginning. I've heard the $600 million announced four times now. I hope that adds up to $2.4 billion. But the $600 million is not going to cut it for the hog industry and your members know that. It's not going to cut it. The Canada Pork Council has asked for an immediate program in terms of loan guarantees.
So my question is this. Have you, as minister, or has your deputy minister provided any direction with respect to the creation of any ad hoc program or any other kinds of programming beyond CAIS advances to address this beef and hog crisis? We need some specifics in terms of what you've proposed.
Secondly, you answered in the House yesterday that you would answer shortly. Can you be specific as to the date the Government of Canada is going to do something, other than the $600 million, to deal with this crisis? We're losing producers every single day. We can't wait until after Christmas. We have to have an answer and we have to have one now. They need a date and they need specifics.