Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I'd like to thank our guests for being here today.
I'd like to begin by following up on the approach of Mr. Barlow and Mr. MacGregor. We've seen this movie before. I'm kind of struck by the fact that we actually have to be here. I understand that there's a bill coming out and that the Senate should act, but we have two major companies that have dealt with this issue before, and we needed a minister to come out and say, “Hey, guys, we need an actual plan out here. Get it done.”
I think the main concern is that farmers and Canadians want assurance. We have a backlog, so let's get rid of the backlog and make sure it doesn't happen again.
I appreciate the minutiae, but my question is to both lines: how can you assure farmers in a plan that you're going to get rid of the backlog and that we're not going to be here again in two or three years with other surges?