Thank you for being here, Minister Ritz.
Yesterday, I took part in the congress of Quebec's Union des producteurs agricoles. This morning, Mr. Paradis, your minister of state, addressed the delegates at the congress. In his speech, he reaffirmed in the strongest terms the government's focus on innovation and commercialization, as well as its commitment to support the supply management system that regulates a large part of Quebec agriculture.
On the one hand, you unreservedly support the supply management system. We see that. But on the other hand, the end of the Canadian Wheat Board monopoly signals a significant change in the way wheat and barley are sold in Canada. This also worries people in the UPA.
This lack of consistency creates confusion and uncertainty among our farmers. At the congress yesterday, in fact, UPA members passed a number of motions expressing concern about the matter. How can they be sure that the government will not be changing the way they bring their products to market, as you have done for farmers in the west?