Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I would also like to echo my colleagues' remarks about this procedure. There are various ways of proceeding. Of course, we could even request an emergency debate, invite 150 to 300 farmers to sit in the gallery above and have the Minister of Transport and the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food appear. However, I don't think the government would appreciate that, given that we might ask questions.
There are also other ways of going about it. The best way to handle it is here, in committee, because we can study it in more depth, we can have high-calibre witnesses, we can have a better overview and be able to think about it afterwards when we prepare our report. The report has an impact on the thoughts of decision-makers and on solutions.
It is all well and good to talk about income security, but if grains are not being sold in western Canada, farmers will not have an income. That will be zero plus zero, which will not go anywhere. The crops will pile up and never be moved. You can't store grains for 40 years. It's fine to set up elevators, but that will not solve the transportation problem.
Our choice is clear, but I'm not sure whether you have had orders to operate differently. The approach has to be based on priorities, and the priority for the next harvest is to ensure plain sailing for the grain from out west. That is a play on words, but it has to get to the ports to be shipped to other countries. It will not all be consumed in Canada. If it were consumed in Canada, we would not even be talking about it. The grain must absolutely leave western Canada for various destinations. If the situation continues, the government will be blamed for failing to assume its responsibilities when faced with a growing problem. The problem will definitely not go away by itself. Political decisions must be made and they must be made with farmers' best interests in mind.
Historically, the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food has always worked on a consensus basis in the best interests of Canadian farmers. In emergency cases, I have previously seen bills pass through all the stages within 24 hours. In this case, we seem to be dragging out the time for something that is a priority right now. It is really discouraging to see the attitude toward our work at the beginning of this Parliament, when, historically, the agriculture committee has worked together in partnership. Right now, this does not seem to be the case, and it will be difficult for all of us to work together in the coming weeks and months.
If you are really set on undertaking this study, we could hold special six-hour or eight-hour meetings and meet three times a week in the hope of possibly completing the study on transportation. If it is only a question of time, why don't you add some hours and we will be here? For the benefit of farmers, we will make the necessary sacrifices. That is why we are here.
However, if your strategy is to drag things out to avoid talking about real problems, then that will show sooner or later. We will denounce that strategy and you will be under a great deal of pressure from farmers as well as provincial and territorial governments, especially those in western Canada that don't want to see the attitude you have right now.
So I hope that we can all work together in agreement. You can count on our full cooperation, but you can also count on our opposition if things don't work.
Thank you.