Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thanks to all the witnesses who have taken their time to come.
We're in the midst of an incredible discussion around the red meat sector. We've had a lot of presentations and, quite honestly, with some varied views on it. That's not to be unexpected. I think all of us here around this table, though we may have different approaches, actually want to continue to work to improve a significant industry within our economy.
I'll start my first round with Mr. Vincent and Mr. Dessureault, if I may, just on the beef and the pork particularly.
In terms of the export markets, we've met with a number of folks. The sustainability, we've been told, is about making sure that we continue to move ahead with our export markets. In combination with that is the comment that more than one of you have made that life is really about a balance, and in this particular case it's also about a balance of markets. So, one, is it the view of the folks at this table, including Mr. Bonnett, that the export markets are something that we need to pursue, and, actually, with the secretariat in place to help move that, is this a direction that we need to press forward on?
Secondly, help me understand how we can help you with your domestic markets, because those are the sustainable things we don't want to lose. And they have to be profitable.
So how do we build on those domestic markets, and continue to have those, and then I'd like your comments on the export markets.
And while you're doing it, there's been a lot of discussion about traceability, but not much about age verification. Age verification is becoming a large issue, in terms of export markets. We seem to be struggling—“we” as a general term—in the industry to get all the producers to buy into the significant importance of age verification. I'd like your comments on what we might be able to do to help support that.
Mr. Vincent.