Thanks, Mr. Chairman.
I just want to take a second here first before I start with questions of the witnesses. I always find it very frustrating when we have our Liberal agriculture critic, Mr. Easter, across the way, who often tries to portray things as much different than they really are. Certainly he was talking about the Interlake region and obviously the issues that they're dealing with there right now, and he mentioned talking to a few people just recently.
I want to point out that our Conservative member for Selkirk—Interlake, James Bezan, has been working very hard on the situation to support his producers and to deal with the situation. I know that he has been talking to us, certainly, as members of the committee, and he has talked to the minister many, many times. Mr. Easter, kind of Mr. Johnny-come-lately as he always is, talks to a few people and then somehow tries to claim that he's standing up for farmers.
Well, I'll tell you that I certainly don't ever see him do much to stand up for farmers. Certainly we can only look at the gun registry vote for an example of that. He claims to support them and then he flips and flops and doesn't do anything for them. I just want to make sure to make the record is clear on that one and make it very clear that our member in Selkirk—Interlake has been working very hard in support of the producers there to help them with the situation they're dealing with. I know that they're very appreciative of it, and I know that I am as well as a colleague of his in the Conservative government.
Let me just go on to the issue that I want to discuss. That's the biotech and research and science issue and how important that is to the future of farming. I know there are many farmers out there who certainly understand that. We certainly heard that when we toured the country on our study on the future of farming. Many of the young farmers in particular understand the role that needs to be played by research and by science. Biotechnology is a big part of that. I hear that all the time from farmers and from those in the industry: they really do understand that it's an important part.
Certainly, we've had bills, like the NDP bill that was brought forward, that many farmers are very concerned about. We heard the Liberals of course making their position once again a flip-flop position on the issue, like we always get from the Liberals. But I just wanted to have a bit of an update from you on where things are headed in the future here, because I know that certainly over the last couple of years there has for sure been a bit of an emphasis on trying to find ways to team up our research with specific commodity groups.
I'm just curious to hear if you can give us some details and an update on how things are progressing in that area in terms of science and research, on how that will be beneficial, and on how it has been beneficial at the farm gate.
