Thank you, Chair.
It's good to be back at this committee again, and it's good to see you, Mr. Bacon.
My question is about the transportation. I know this government seems to want to talk about trade deals and getting rid of marketing boards, and how that is going to make money for farmers, but if you don't have the proper transportation links, you're not going to be able to get your product there on time, which you alluded to.
We've heard before at this committee from different farmers about the availability of rail cars and sidings for loading. Of course, you're alluding also to port efficiencies. I don't know if you use the Churchill port, but it's definitely a problem, and this problem is not just with the pulse crops. This government has had five or six years to straighten out a lot of those problems, and apparently we're still in the same situation.
You also alluded to the March 18 announcement. Finally an announcement has been made. What do you see happening if we don't get these things straightened out? Are we going to lose customers? Are we going to get less for our crops? Will certain farmers not produce in certain areas? If action is not taken, what's going to happen? How do you see it evolving?
I know you seem quite optimistic that this government is going to straighten out the transportation problems, but what's your realistic view on that and how it's going to evolve? If it doesn't evolve, how is it going to hurt the pocketbooks of farmers?