Thank you for being here today. It is a pleasure to have you. I am an MP from Quebec. I would like to ask your opinion on an international matter, specifically, what is currently happening with the Doha round at the WTO.
In your country, you chair an agriculture committee, so you are in a good position to tell us how your farm producers feel about what is going on at the WTO. We know that the main reason that talks have broken down is agriculture. The director general of the WTO, Pascal Lamy, is still trying to get the talks back on track, but it is not going well.
In Australia, are people talking about how food products should not be considered simple commodities? By that, I do not mean that we should put a stop to all international trade. We are very happy to sell our pork, our maple syrup and our beef to others. A farm producer's first role is to feed the people at home, without shutting the door to other countries. But we wonder whether agriculture should be given special status during these talks. I know it is not quite the same thing, but every country's culture is not considered a commodity. Are producers and politicians having similar discussions in your country?