Right, this is a topical subject for our organization.
We're currently getting started on a comprehensive study looking at land use policy, land use planning, and some of the provincial regulations around farmland ownership to try to understand exactly the kind of questions you're asking.
In terms of the profitability of farming, I think it's a complex picture for what drives that. Certainly the amounts of money going through from development pressures are always going to be a concern for farming. Length of tenure, as you suggested, is an issue for farmers.
For ownership and leasing arrangements, having a mix is always optimal in terms of risk management in planning for farming operations. Certainly long lease tenures would be critical. We don't have a number to place on that, but I think it's an important aspect to the long-term viability of operations and the ability to invest.
When it comes to profitability, we've done a lot of work looking at the structure of agricultural research and what can be done on that front. I would echo some of the sentiments of Mr. Slomp in terms of investing in varietal research for Canadian products and also looking at bolstering the next agricultural policy framework to provide access to capital for new entrants.
I think it is a critical piece of the picture to try to keep farms in operation and farming, not just for the profitability of the operation, but so the capital and the flexible intergenerational transfer policy context is there to make sure, where there is a desire to keep it in farming and a committed farm family, they can make that work.