Thank you for your presentation, Mr. Deputy Minister.
My question for you, as members of the working group, is can you tell me if there has been a cost-benefit analysis to prove beyond any reasonable doubt--or at least to indicate there is empirical evidence, demonstrable evidence--that prairie farmers will be better off without the Wheat Board than they are now?
Can you tell me what kind of impact study you were asked to do? What kind of analysis were you asked to present to Treasury Board, which would accompany any piece of legislation to assess the impact of this sweeping comprehensive reform to the western agricultural economy?
I would ask you, Mr. Deputy Minister and Mr. Knubley, can you share with us the research you must have done on behalf of the minister regarding cost-benefit analysis and impact study and essentially the business case for this legislation? It will surely lead to the demise of the Canadian Wheat Board as we know it.