Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Minister, for being here with us this evening.
You were speaking about the advantage that an open market will have for western producers in terms of the price of wheat.
I want to go to another advantage. I represent thousands of farmers in the riding of Portage—Lisgar, a very strong agricultural-based riding where agriculture and value-added industry are incredibly important. We have Can-Oat. We have Bunge. We have processing of sunflower seeds. We have processing of pretty well every kind of grain—except wheat and durum, obviously.
I'm wondering if you can talk a little bit and just explain the following for the average non-farmer who is maybe sitting here or watching. How has the monopoly put shackles and chains on value-added industries being established and developed in western Canada, and how will taking those shackles off provide so many more jobs and opportunities for farmers? I ask because the bottom line, sir, as you know, is that they want to put money in their pockets and we're seeing them do that in every sector except wheat.
Could you please explain that?