Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Mr. Audet, first of all, thank you for your testimony.
I listened to the responses regarding hay requirements, particularly when there are weather events. We experienced one such event in Abitibi-Ouest. It was a perfect storm of winter frost, drought and forest fire. I worked very closely with producers, particularly as part of a so-called red letter initiative, to get the attention of the Minister of Agriculture to ensure that agricultural risk management programs could be better deployed. Of course, Quebec and Ottawa passed the buck back and forth. The initiative did not yield the desired results, because the programs were not triggered, even though the drought was evident and even though it was a perfect storm. This is a major problem.
What kinds of solutions do you see? The bottom line, according to the financial statements one of these producers showed me, is that the adjustments will cost producers more. I'm referring specifically to the allocation of resources based on hay needs. We have to source hay from elsewhere in the region, but transportation costs are exorbitant. It's poorly covered by agricultural risk management programs.
So, I'm listening. I have many other questions, but it doesn't help you if I ask too many at once.