Thank you, Chair.
Thank you to our guests.
I welcome all my colleagues. I sit on the human resources and international trade committees, but as the member of Parliament for Kelowna—Lake Country, it's an honour and a privilege to welcome my colleagues as well as our local young farmers and farmers of all ages, who help create the quality of life that we so take for granted.
I spent nine years on city council, and 43% of the land in Kelowna is in the agricultural land reserve. Many people treat it like their public park space. It's something that we have to realize is not going to be there forever if we don't manage it properly.
I know one of the realities that was raised—actually, they're discussing it today at city hall—is that some communities across the province have a local bylaw whereby you can have your own chickens in your backyard, creating a little controversy for the local homeowners.
But on a macro scale of farming as a profession, I agree that one of our biggest challenges is the land cost, as you alluded to, Madeleine, the fact that we're looking at the people who buy the property and then enjoy the beauty and lease it out. It's almost a subtenant perspective, and it isn't sustainable in that manner either.
I have a couple of questions specifically for you, to start. You talked about how there are limited programs for farmers. I know the province started a B.C. young farmers program a couple of years ago and tried to get some ideas for it. You mentioned $500,000 as the maximum guaranteed loan. What would you see as being more realistic, then, specifically for B.C. and the Okanagan farmers?