Thanks very much, Chair.
My question is one of process. I'd like to read for you something that
Marcel Groleau, president of the Union des producteurs agricoles du Québec, said the following, and I would like you to comment on it:
“This concession is not consistent with the House of Commons unanimous motion on the protection of supply management.”...All through the negotiations, no such mention was made in the reports to the industry. “We had confidence,” added Mr. Groleau. “Canada's decision is regrettable and opens the door to the dumping of European cheese on the Canadian market... Here we have regulatory support whereas they have financial support”. Mr. Groleau points out that, in trade agreement negotiations, countries usually make sure that the subsidies of future trade partners will be reduced or eliminated before opening the market. However, the current agreement does not seem to affect European subsidies. “Our dairy and cheese producers will have to start competing with the European treasury for a spot on the shelves of our grocery stores”, said Mr. Groleau.
He's saying that we've allowed cheese that is subsidized to come into our country. He goes on to say that about 60% of the revenue of the producteurs who compete against our cheese comes from subsidies, and our farmers don't receive any money from our government. I guess his point is, is this fair? As we were doing the negotiations, was that a fair way to conduct the negotiations?
Could you comment on that?