Earlier, Mr. Easter asked you what is your preferred rate for farmers. You answered that it is the preferred rate plus 2% but you added that it depends on each case, based on the profitability of the farm. These days, not too many farms in Quebec are profitable, whether they be hog operations or something else. One only has to think also of what happened with the mad cow disease. The whole of Canada was penalized because of a cow in Alberta.
As far as I am concerned, you are the only one telling the truth. Is it really on a case-by-case basis? In the case of a hog operation, it is the preferred rate plus 5, 6, 7 or 8%. In the case of a profitable farming business that has been in operation for four or five generations, it is the preferred rate plus 2%.
I would like to know what is the real situation relating to loans for farmers.