Canada should implement its own COOL. Canadian farmers are decreasing their herds, and at the same time we import more meat from the U.S. year over year. We also need to create a level playing field for produce in Canada. Alberta and Quebec government farm support programs enable low-price beef, veal, and pork to Ontario at prices that undermine Ontario industries. So we're competing against other provinces within our own country. Current risk management programs were not designed to cope with today's market conditions. We need immediate adjustments to the agri-stability program and to the calculation of reference margins to account for low negative margins.
In summary, in order to attract young people to farming we have to offer them a sustainable industry. No matter what kind of program we offer or put out, if we cannot keep our farming industries going in Canada, no person in their right mind would take up farming.
Thank you.