That would go to the clerk.
Gentlemen, we're out of time. I want to thank you very much for coming. But before you go, I have, as the chair, a couple of follow-up questions.
A number of you talked about profitability. Mr. Read talked about profitability in his plan. That has to carry down to the industry. Mr. Gillespie said that profitability was a big issue. That seems to be a recurring theme when I talk to farmers.
I have one specific question for Brian. As a producer, I've shipped cows to your plant. When you talk $15 to $20, when you put that over a whole animal, it's peanuts. Do you not think there is a responsibility by the packers, an onus on them, to make sure that the grassroots producer--not the packing facility that owns a bunch of cattle or whatever, but the grassroots producer--is profitable? The other question is why you don't pass this $15 or $20 on to the consumer?
I know the easy answer, that you have to stay competitive. But I heard from the packing industry and producers and consumers, when we went after the “product of Canada”, that this would allow Canadians.... I make a point to buy Canadian. My wife buys Canadian. Some people can afford to do it and want to do it. Some don't care to do it whether they have the money or not. Then there are others out there who plain don't have the ability. But it's my belief that if you make it so the Canadian consumer has the choice, the ones who can, or most of them, will buy Canadian. So I think it takes away that argument.
I'd like you to touch on that as briefly as you can.
Also, this is a yes-or-no answer that any or all of you could answer. Do you think that packers who own cattle should be allowed to access government programs?
Mr. Read, do you want to start?