Thank you. I appreciate it very much. I'm pleased to be here.
I'd like to thank all the witnesses.
In the short time available though, I will concentrate my efforts on Mr. Holmes, who is the executive director of the Canada Organic Trade Association.
I was struck by the statistics that you provided. I was struck by the enormity of the industry you represent, sir. I had no idea that it's a $3.5 billion industry. You said that it tripled between 2006 and 2012. I can tell you that as someone from British Columbia, I don't need persuading of its importance, particularly in Victoria. It's a very robust sector, indeed.
I was struck by a couple of things you said, and on which I'd like you to elaborate. There appears to be an equivalency agreement that we have with the United States which was entered into in 2009, yet the Americans have an equivalency agreement with the EU. I think you said that they have an edge on us. I can't understand in light of all of the CETA changes why that hasn't been rectified.
Can you explain why we haven't been able to catch up?