Thank you, Mr. Chair.
My name is René Roy. I am a pork producer in the Beauce region of Quebec, and I am the president of the Canadian Pork Council. With me today is Stephen Heckbert, who is our president and chief executive officer.
I do not stand here alone. I carry the voices of thousands of farming families who, from coast to coast, work tirelessly to feed our country and the world.
Before addressing the technical details of our business risk management programs, I want to establish a fundamental principle. For us as farmers and for all Canadians, protecting our agricultural sector is not just an economic issue; it is a matter of national security. A country that can no longer guarantee its own subsistence is a vulnerable country, and our country has the advantage of being able to offer that guarantee, should we so choose, to our allies and friends around the world. In a world marked by geopolitical instability and climate change, our farms are the first line of defence for our sovereignty. Supporting our producers ensures that grocery stores remain stocked and that families remain fed.
To ensure this security, we need agile financial tools. The advance payments program is crucial, yet it currently presents major hurdles for our hog finishers. Imagine the producers in my home region of Beauce who fully own their animals. Despite this ownership, they often hit a wall of bureaucracy that struggles to recognize the value of their livestock as collateral. Hogs cannot be stored in a silo like grain; they are units in constant growth. We ask the committee to work with us to find permanent solutions for the recognition of guarantees in the circumstances of finished hogs. Our owner-producers must have seamless access to the APP.
Furthermore, to reflect the reality of skyrocketing input inflation, we are calling for a permanent increase of the interest-free portion of the advance to $350,000. This is not a luxury; it is the working capital required to sustain operations in today's environment.
Another pillar of our security is biosecurity. African swine fever and, frankly, other foreign animal diseases hang over our industry. A single case in this country would halt our exports immediately, threatening the survival of the entire sector if we do not get access to those markets quickly. Current ASF preparedness is a major step forward, but it cannot remain temporary. This type of initiative must become a permanent program. Prevention and preparedness are not expenses; they are investments to avoid an economic catastrophe that would cost billions of dollars.
Finally, I want to emphasize that our best defence is often a good offence. For an industry like ours, which is export-oriented, access to new international markets is, in itself, a risk management strategy. The more diversified our market, the less exposed we are to the whims of any single trading partner. I don't think I have to mention to whom I am referring here. We ask the government to continue to find these new markets and to do so with an eye on fair and free access from both parties so that Canadian pork, recognized globally for its quality, can move freely.
In conclusion, Mr. Chair, we are asking for a long-term vision: simplified BRM programs, an accessible and modern APP, and permanent animal health protections. Treat agriculture for what it truly is: essential infrastructure for the nation.
There are other technical issues that we would like to share, but it will be in a further document that we will share with the committee.
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I'm willing to answer your questions.