If you don't mind, I will tackle the question regarding reciprocity of standards.
I have a little story to tell that is a clear demonstration of just how abnormal the situation in Canada really is. An American buyer who comes to an auction in Canada and buys a cull cow will pay 1¢ more per pound than a Canadian buyer. An American buyer can afford to do that. He then takes it back home for slaughter where regulatory costs represent 7¢ less per pound, and turns around and sells the meat back to us here and competes with us in our market.
So, rule reciprocity is a major issue that will have to be addressed, because otherwise, the slaughter industry will face some hard realities in future. It is a major issue. There is the matter of regulatory reciprocity, but there is also a need for reciprocity at other levels. In Canada, rules apply with respect to animal welfare. However, are all the importers that bring animals into Canada subject to those same rules? That is a concern for us, as producers. We are also concerned about reciprocity in relation to transportation, production and environmental standards.
In my opinion, we can live with imports and exports here in Canada, so long as there is reciprocity in terms of the rules that apply. We have know-how here in Canada. The slaughter operation at the Levinoff-Colbex plant is extremely efficient. That facility is just as capable of high-level performance as any other slaughterhouse in the world. However, it has to be able to operate in the same commercial environment, because otherwise, not just that company but all Canadian slaughterhouses will be in trouble.