Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Minister. As a member of the agriculture committee, I must say that the amount of time you've given to this committee, as far as showing up to give a consultation is concerned.... I remember that we actually had public officials in front of this committee for a meeting not even two weeks ago, to go through some of the new programming, so I know your officials are definitely available for answering questions. I guess Mr. Easter wasn't aware of the meeting or decided not to show.
But I must say that when I talk to farm groups.... I remember, Minister, that when I was the chair of the Western Canadian Wheat Growers we came down to Ottawa to meet with Andy Mitchell, who was then the minister. I flew down from Saskatoon, supposedly to have a meeting with him, and of course it got cancelled at the last minute. I know that there were many frustrations for farm groups at that time with that Liberal government and how they would not be accessible.
Yet I can honestly say, Minister—and I say this to your credit—that when I talk to the farm groups, they're so happy and impressed with how inclusive you are: when you go on trade missions abroad, you include them, and how you work with them, and how you're available to talk, and not only you but also your staff.... So I want to compliment you on that, and I hope you keep it up, because that's making our ag industry in Canada that much stronger.
Minister, that kind of ties into research, because a lot of the groups we're working with are talking about research and how important research is, and I think this committee gets it. If you talk to members around this committee...I think we understand that research is very important. I know that at the University of Saskatchewan we've seen some great agriculture sector research out of Innovation Place.
In the main estimates, you're indicating that basically there's going to be another $38.4 million spent on an agriculture innovation program. Maybe you could help to educate the committee about what that program is and about just how it's going to impact the agriculture sector.