I think the problem here is that it's restricting when royalties can be collected. It's short-circuiting a regulatory process that the industry may ask for.
Given our experience on this committee, I think we all recognize that agriculture in Canada is not homogeneous; there are many different sectors. They have different requirements and this type of amendment eliminates a regulatory process that a particular sector may ask for because it makes sense to them.
I think it's important when it comes to the payment of royalties that a particular sector has the ability to determine what's best for it, in wide consultation, of course, and working with the government and through the regulatory process. This would forbid it outright, no changes. I don't think that is necessarily conducive to all sectors within agriculture here in Canada.
I know there was some concern about paying royalties up front and paying end-point royalties, for example, which are not specified in the bill at this point, but there may be good examples whereby an end-point royalty may benefit the sector and ultimately benefit the farmer if it's a common sense change, but also if it stimulates and enhances the investment in new varieties for that particular sector of farmers.
Those would be my comments, Mr. Chair.