I would like to thank you all for your testimony.
Mr. Read, my first question is for you.
On April 15, I had an opportunity, with my leader, Mr. Gilles Duceppe, and the member for Drummond, Roger Pomerleau, to visit your facilities in St-Cyrille-de-Wendover, the Levinoff-Colbex slaughterhouse. On behalf of my leader and Mr. Pomerleau, I would like to congratulate you on the high calibre of your facilities. This was the first time that I had ever visited a cattle slaughterhouse. I had already visited a hog slaughterhouse; I believe that Mr. Laws was there. I'm going to make a pun, but I do not know how it will translate into English: holy cow, was I ever impressed. It was very interesting.
I would like to know where things stand with respect to your new facilities, your proposed $19-million cutting room. We know that the federal government announced a $50 million program over three years in order to improve slaughter capacity. We asked the minister many questions here, in the committee, and at the House of Commons. I know that, on your side, you are also working with Minister Ritz's office or with Minister Blackburn's office on this issue. On June 5, there was a government press release which repeated the announcement made in the last budget, but we still do not know what the criteria will be. We are starting to find out, because it has been repeated on numerous occasions that this will not be a subsidy but will instead be a loan.
I would like to know, obviously if you can share this information with us, if you have made any progress with this file. Have you had any confirmation from the minister's office about whether or not you will be eligible? Will this be a loan or a subsidy? Do you know the criteria to have access to this program? I would like you to provide us with a small summary of the situation.