I don't think doing research differently means closing critical research centres when you have a prison farm that's now $40 million-plus over budget. I don't think that is a good use of taxpayer dollars when those dollars could have kept the Lacombe research centre open for another three years, Quebec open for another three and a half years and the Nappan experimental farm open for another 20 years. That's where dollars would be much better spent.
Minister, you mentioned in your opening remarks the importance of trade. Have you done an economic analysis or an impact analysis on what signing the Mercosur trade agreement would mean for Canada's livestock industry? Obviously, these proponents are very concerned about the impact this would have. Have you personally told the Prime Minister to exempt agriculture from the Mercosur trade agreement because of the concerns raised by Canada's beef, pork and poultry producers?