Yes, Mr. Chairman. I'm going to share my time with my colleague André Bellavance, who is the Bloc Québécois agriculture and agri-food critic.
This past Tuesday, we heard from Mr. Gauthier and Mr. Stephenson. In talking about supply management, Mr. Gauthier told us the following:
In this regard, Canada has taken a very strong position in the negotiations, by opposing any tariff reductions or tariff quota expansion for our supply-managed products. This position is stronger than any other WTO members.
However, people know we didn't want to make any concessions. Moreover, in Canada's International Market Access Report of 2009, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Minister of International Trade stated that Canada would press to achieve its objectives:
...while seeking to ensure that Canada's supply management system for certain agricultural products is not compromised.
Canada undertook at that time not to reduce over-quota tariffs or the size of quotas. However, in recent bilateral negotiations, Canada has made concessions on in-quota tariffs on products subject to supply management. We're told that Canada has offered preferential access to its market in the context of its commitments on in-quota tariffs, but that has nevertheless left the very essence of the supply management system intact. There was nevertheless an opening at that time.
In his conclusion, our colleague Mr. Keddy told us that Canada had adopted a firm position on sensitive products and supply management and that it had defended it at the WTO and in the other bilateral negotiations around the world. However, he noted that no one could say what the future holds for us. In a Cabinet document prepared by the ministers of Finance, International Trade and Industry in 2002, it was noted that the decision to protect supply management at whatever cost was not an obvious one. That suggested that, at some point, it would be an item for negotiation.
I would like you to tell me today whether you are going to protect supply management and make no concessions on that point.