Thank you, Minister.
That's an interesting answer, as 54% of the workforce cuts and 75% of the spending cuts in your department are coming from the science and innovation research branch. I think your answer to this committee is a little misleading.
My last question is about your conversations around the country. The Federation of Canadian Municipalities voted 98% in opposition to the closures of these research centres, so I think you're getting a different message.
When I was in Nappan at the research farm, I was told by the constituents there that your colleague the member of Parliament for Cumberland—Colchester asked if she could tour the Nappan experimental farm. She was told by Ag Canada that if she stepped foot on that farm, she would be arrested.
Is it a directive from your department that the experimental farms are telling elected officials that they cannot come on these farms or they'll be arrested?