Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
Again, thank you to all of our witnesses for joining us today.
One of the reasons I wanted to have this meeting at the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food is that this committee focuses on the challenges that farmers experience in growing. It is a high-risk environment right across the field.
We are very familiar with the frustrations with Health Canada. That is not only from the committee membership, but also from many of the witnesses. Farming is a sector that runs into Health Canada regulations on a daily basis. I think at this committee, you will find a much more sympathetic view to the challenges you experience in the growing aspect.
Mr. Hurford, I would like to start with you. It's really to continue your interaction with Mr. Weiler on the programs that are available through Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.
You mentioned in your letter to the minister that you wanted official recognition across all federal programs that cannabis is a legitimate farming activity. You also wanted to see that craft cannabis farmers and processors have access to the capital, grants and small business loans available to other agricultural sectors.
Can you clarify for the committee, when you look at the business risk management suite of programs, the federal Crown corporation and Farm Credit Canada, is it currently true that craft farmers don't have access to those, like other agricultural activities do?