Okay. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I'd like to talk about the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. In April, a slew of articles came out about the shortage of inspectors.
Minister, you told us that the funding had not been reduced but, in fact, raised slightly. In your presentation, you mentioned that a secure Web platform would be used to share information. That's a positive measure. But does the government also intend to hire more inspectors?
According to Bob Kingston, the president of the Agriculture Union, which represents federal inspectors, the government is really cutting corners when it comes to food safety. More and more, the responsibility for food inspection is falling on companies. In Montreal and throughout Quebec, a minimum of 45 inspectors are needed, but there are only 30. Overall, 10 inspectors are lacking when it comes to satisfying the required minimum number of inspectors at a number of meat-processing plants. Has any money been set aside to hire new inspectors? This is, after all, an issue that has a tremendous impact on Canadians.
My understanding is that meat intended for export to the U.S. is inspected on a daily basis, while meat for Canadian consumption is inspected just three times a week.
I'd like to know the reason for the double standard. Why, under the budget, is meat for Canadian consumption subject to less inspection than that intended for U.S. consumption?
Are there plans in the budget to do away with that double standard?