Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Minister, for coming today to committee.
As you know, vote 1 in the main estimates is operating expenses for the department at $548 million. I would suggest that's a lot of money for all of us in this room, but it's toward a good cause, I would suggest, in your ministry to back up Canadian farmers, to back up our egg and food supply for Canada. As part of that, it's in support of the advance payments program, as you know. I'll ask a question about that following this.
I also wanted to talk about the fact we've passed various pieces of legislation that have affected the agriculture sector. As you know, Bill C-18 has been a positive effect, just recently receiving royal assent—again, another step, I think, from our government that we support the agriculture industry and farmers in Canada.
I have two questions, Minister. Can you please inform the committee how this legislation will assist farmers by reducing administrative burden and cost to producers and provide greater flexibility in repayment options, and simplify the delivery and ease of access to the advance payments program?