Okay.
AgriInvest has also been a popular program, and we have used it. It is appreciated, due to its simplicity and transparency. However, in talks with government, I have often heard that farmers don't need more BRM programming, due to a large amount of money sitting in AgriInvest accounts. This is akin to making arguments for cutting social programs due to Canadians' having money in RRSP accounts. Just because some people have money in an account, that doesn't mean it's in the hands of those who need it. Saving money for bad times should not be discouraged, and it will be used when it is needed.
It is also common in government decision-making that when budgeted money is not used, it is redirected somewhere else in the future. A “use it or lose it” type of budgeting does not work for disaster assistance programs. Reducing coverage in good times leads to inadequate coverage when it is needed.
Risk management programs should be used to mitigate the risks in the agricultural industry that are out of the control of the industry itself. Weather is a big driver of profitability on the farm, but trade disputes have also proven to be major influences on profitability in recent years. Some of the current programs do not adequately address that, particularly trade disputes.
Thank you for your time and interest in this today.