I would like to add a few words to Mr. Lemieux's comments.
I have been participating in Canadian round table discussions for a few years now.
The issue of SRM regulations was raised during a round table on beef. The industry agreed to opening the borders. It's very important that borders be opened. There were conditions to that. The first was that regulations be harmonized with our main client, the United States.
For a few years now, the United States has been stating its intention to get there but nothing has been done. We have been incapable of obtaining regulation harmonization, with the result that the meat-packing industry is being destroyed, in eastern Canada at least.
I believe that the industry has responded positively. The Canadian government has made considerable progress with the assistance program for segregating SRMs in slaughterhouses, and we thank them for that.
Mr. Couture mentioned that the industry had received significant amounts, in part for assisting the segregation. Mr. Couture himself received assistance for his own business. However, in the end, the actual costs at the slaughterhouse have remained the same. Mr. Couture said it himself, this is a service business. The meat-packing industry in Canada is dealing with costs of $31.70 per head, which represents millions of dollars per year for a business like Levinoff-Colbex.
If we do not find a short-term solution, businesses will have disappeared before we've had a chance to see the results of the Canadian government's announcement to assist slaughterhouses with a business development plan. Years can go by between the announcement of a program and its implementation. Meanwhile, if the government was capable of establishing the assistance program being called for by industry and if it could have discussions with the governments in question—the United States in particular—in order to harmonize regulations, I think that in the not-to-far future the Canadian industry could benefit, along with the Canadian government, and find permanent solutions.
That is what we are asking for today and it's urgent. The current situation in the east is very serious. One hundred per cent of the costs for SRMs on the farm is covered by the producers. Furthermore, all the industry costs are taken on by the industry.
I would also like to take the opportunity to congratulate the rendering industry for its efforts in obtaining maximum value for products that can be marketed. However, with respect to the others, the slaughtering industry has full responsibility and it is no longer capable of taking that on. It does not have that capacity and this is an urgent matter.