Good morning and welcome.Thank you for your testimony.
Mr. Gilroy, this is not the first time we have met. I seem to remember that, last time we saw each other, you brought us Ontario apples. I see that, today, there unfortunately aren't any apples. I'm just kidding.
Your testimonies are very valuable to us when we're reviewing programs. You're in the field, you're directly affected by all the risk management programs.
Mr. Mutch, if you don't mind, I would like to ask you a question about the Advance Payments Program. I just want to know whether, in Prince Edward Island, you were faced with the same situation as we were in Quebec. On August 6, the minister announced that a stay of default would be applied to the Advanced Payments Program. During the discussions with the Department of Agriculture, Quebec producers understood that no retroactive penalties would be applied to producers. Prior to the August 6 announcement, and even once the announcement had been made, the producers were under this impression. Afterwards, we learned that a retroactive penalty would apply to producers who sign a repayment agreement.
On November 18, the minister appeared before the committee. I asked him about this matter, and he told us that there was a penalty, but that it was not very high. It was set at one-quarter of 1%. I agree that it's not a very high penalty. However, I was wondering whether producers from the rest of Canada also thought there would be no penalty, until it was suddenly announced that there would be one.
I would like to hear your opinion on this subject.