Good day. Thank you for being here and providing us with your testimonies.
A week ago, we heard from pork producers because of the urgent situation they are in. You are here today because we are still looking for solutions that would help the livestock industry recover from the critical state in which it has been for several years. We have talked about SRM a lot. Even you mentioned it in your statement.
In the latest budget, sums are allocated to the slaughter industry, but we are not really familiar with the details. Perhaps you have had the opportunity to examine the testimony given to the committee last Wednesday by the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, Mr. Ritz.
I asked Mr. Ritz if he could give us more details on the announcement that $75 million will be allocated to the slaughter industry. Earlier, Frank provided us with a breakdown of these funds, but when I had asked the minister about the specifics of the program, how it would be applied, when the money would be available, who would have access to the sums and whether it would really close the gap between Canadian producers and U.S. producers, who are not held to the same standards when it comes to the disposal of SRM, he tried to make light of the situation. He told us that the budget would likely be passed and that by voting for it, we could get the details faster. We are well aware that the budget will be passed. There is no delay, and there are not enough Liberals to vote against the budget and defeat it. I am sure you can see that this was not a satisfactory response.
We would like to know if the minister has at least assured you, as producers, that the funding announced in the budget would really be used to offset the disadvantage resulting from the different standards imposed by Canada and by the U.S. with regard to SRM.