Thank you, Kathleen.
I was also smiling at Mr. McLaren when he talked about Pearson, because I'm just reading a book right now that goes back to Laurier's vision of trade, if you want to go back even further yet.
Trade is bigger than just tariff lines. It's also about market access and clear rules to make the trade work. Issues such as SPS—that's sanitary and phytosanitary—food safety technical barriers can interrupt trade and in some cases nearly kill trade. Two key components are under negotiation in this deal to deal with these concerns.
Number one is a proper dispute resolution process. It has to be clear, must be easily understood, and needs to work in a timely manner. This is especially important for the SPS issues.
The second is recognition of sound science. One example I think we know of very recently within the grain trade concerns flax. We simply have to have a better and more timely process to deal with low-level presence concerns. A trade agreement is only as good as our ability to enforce it.
My final point is that there are only a few really large markets in the world: the U.S., China, India, and the EU. This is one of those four markets. More importantly, it's a market that buys high-quality and high-end goods, services, and food. High quality means higher prices, and that means better opportunities for all of us to make money in the agriculture value chain. So we, the Grain Growers of Canada, with the Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance, strongly support these trade talks.
I look forward to your questions. Thank you.