Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Welcome, gentlemen.
I commend you for your patience with today's interruptions.
A recent news release from the Nova Scotia federation's president, Richard Melvin, stated the bleak numbers in returns you're getting on your margins compared to the food bill. If the retailers are not helping you on that side, I guess we need better programs across this country to help you.
A recent article in the Country Guide, showed two big examples of how the red sector is helped in different parts of the country. There's $600 million being invested in Alberta in the beef industry, and in the pork industry in Quebec they have a stabilization program. That creates quite a disadvantage for a lot of producers in Atlantic Canada.
First, what should the federal government be doing to give a level playing field for maritime producers?
My second question deals with AgriFlex. We've had a lot of concerns over the last few weeks from producers coming in about the AgriFlex program.
I guess this question is to the P.E.I. and Nova Scotia producers. What are the problems with AgriFlex, and how should it be changed to accommodate the types of maritime farmers we have?