Thank you very much for being here.
Since I've been here, since 2006, we have met a number of times. I wouldn't be surprised if at the first meeting I was at, in 2006, all of you were here.
You know, it appears that everybody has good intentions, but some programs are working and some are not. For one, I'd just like to have a quick comment on this hog transition program.
According to the Co-Operator, “To continue to allow new bidders to join into the auction without increasing the funding, is to create a free-for-all that pits producer against producer.” I would like some comments. Honestly, I don't understand exactly what that's saying.
In general, it seems that at least since I've been here we've been hearing the same story. I remember one pork producer--maybe it was even one of you--said, “Help us compete against foreign governments. We have to somehow do something.”
Mr. Reid, you mentioned a national food strategy, that we need some kind of vision.
How do we get good-quality pork to Canadians and allow you folks to make a living? That's the key. And we haven't answered that yet.
In my province the fruit producers are facing the same situation. They're producing good quality. They're innovative. They're doing new things. And yet all it takes is apples from Washington state and they're out of business. There are rumblings there about orderly marketing. We come back to the question that I have often posed about supply management, a program that doesn't cost the taxpayer anything and keeps people basically having an income.
Is there some talk? Is this the answer? In the last four years nothing seems to have changed a lot. Obviously we have to do something. Is this the direction we have to be going in?
I'll throw that open to anybody who can answer.