Good afternoon.
Mr. White, since you are ready now, my first question is for you.
Before we start, I would like to say how relieved I am that my colleague Alex's bill does not propose a ban on genetically modified organisms. The bill seems to have caused quite an upheaval in the industry. Earlier, to my great consternation and amazement, the minister's parliamentary secretary told us that passing a bill like this could almost cause another economic crisis. It was quite surprising to hear comments like that. But we are used to it, aren't we? The same thing happened to me yesterday when I appeared to speak to one of my own bills.
What we are talking about here is including regulations that require an analysis of potential harm for export markets. I wonder how that requirement for an analysis could cause such major problems for GMO producers.
Mr. White, the document you presented to us was very interesting. You talked about the advantages of GMOs, but you did not talk about the downside. Maybe that is not your role, but perhaps we could talk about it. Yes, GMOs have their advantages. But they also have a lot of disadvantages, especially with regard to exports.
Let us think back to 2001 when China would not accept canola, rapeseed and soy from anywhere in North America. The Americans suffered the most disastrous repercussions, since 70% of their soy is genetically modified. China is the Americans' major market for soy. So you understand why the problem was serious.
I wonder if we could not turn the situation around. It could be an advantage to have some proof up our sleeve. At very least, before jumping in to produce and market products internationally, we could do the analysis that would let us see if it is possible to get involved in this market or that market with no problem, safely, and without the threat of having doors slammed in our faces.