I simply wanted to point that out to my colleagues.
I was struck by a good number of your comments. It is indeed unacceptable that Canadians not have access to quality food, whatever their social rank or location. I have worked a great deal with the food banks in my riding, and I find the extent to which these banks are meeting a primary need of the population quite horrible. This is a real issue.
You often referred to the problem of access to food. I appreciated that you pointed out that price is not the only aspect to be considered, and that revenues must also be taken into account. In the context of this future food policy, we hear a lot about the requirements and the many standards we want to impose on farmers. The fact is that all of that has a cost. The more standards we add, the more we have to increase the cost of that food. That is a perverse effect. I think this requires a lot of thought.
I know that currently the department is carrying out an exhaustive study on the food policy. We are doing the same study, at the same time, and I hope that one day we'll meet. I would like to obtain a copy of your report and recommendations.
I would also like you to send us your documentation, Ms. Bronson.
Personally, I think we are putting the cart before the horse, here at the committee. We should have waited to receive the results of the department's analysis, and then studied all of their recommendations. Then we could have benefited from all of the department's consultations.
I would now like to speak to Mr. Groleau about a timely subject.
We spoke about access to food. There is another issue of concern to farmers at this time, which is the survival of family farms. This issue is related to the tax change proposals made by Minister of Finance. The time allocated to consultations was very short, and we ran out of time. Producers have not yet been made fully aware of the situation. I know, because I attended UPA meetings, that most people are not really informed about what is going on.
Mr. Groleau, for food to be affordable, costs do indeed have to be a part of the equation. Taxes are an important cost for producers.