Should these import quotas be awarded first to those who already produce cheese? These cheese makers invest a great deal of money to produce cheese while complying with Canadian standards.
Some people want these quotas, but they are just distributors. I think it is easier for someone to put cheese in a freezer, to buy small trucks, and to make deliveries around town rather than investing $10 million, $15 million or $20 million in production.
Consider Fromagerie Bergeron, for example, which is in my riding. It already produces and exports cheese and it would also like to import it. Companies like this invest and create jobs in the riding. This company employs more than 200 people. If it had import quotas, that would give it leverage to export its own cheese. If it is possible to buy cheese from Europe, it should also be possible, through European brokers, to export cheese that is produced here.
Would that give these processors some leverage? Would it enable them to export and import cheese? We also have access to the European market, but it will be very difficult to penetrate that market.