Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I will be sharing my time with my colleague Mr. Desnoyers.
Good morning, Mr. Pomerleau. Welcome. Mr. Pomerleau and I have a common background, as he comes from the Beauce and I come from the Lower St. Lawrence region, so we are both from rural regions. In addition, we have some agricultural friends in common in my riding. So I am pleased to be able to speak with you for the next five minutes.
I would like to ask you a few questions about the pork industry as it stands today. Having come from the agricultural and union sectors, I have seen close hand what has gone on in the pork industry over the past 15 years. Pork production was a real jewel in both Quebec and Canadian export markets. Unfortunately, we have no choice but to acknowledge that things have changed because of the crisis in pork production coupled with the economic crisis, etc.
I would like to hear your opinion on the current state of our beautiful jewel, the pork industry, and on its future.