Thank you very much, Mr. Chair, and welcome to the working group members, both here and abroad.
As a grain farmer from western Canada, I must say that I'm looking forward to your analysis as we go through how marketing freedom for wheat and barley growers is finally going to be achieved.
One of the issues that has been brought up is that of grain quality. We've heard of new businesses that are ramping up investment plans to take advantage of a revival in production, with an emphasis on quality, especially in the malting barley industry. We've had announcements. Last week we had one on a new pasta plant being built in Saskatchewan, and today there was one on the expansion of malting facilities in central Alberta, where I'm from.
When I think of the other value-added industries that have just been waiting to get hold of top-quality grain to get to market, I'm puzzled by comments from the chairman of the Canadian Wheat Board that there would be a shift in focus to quantity from quality.
My first question is based on the comments of the chair. It begs the question: Who will be responsible for the maintenance of grain quality in western Canada after this bill is passed?