Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman and honourable members of the committee.
Manitoba Beef Producers certainly appreciate this opportunity to appear before you to discuss the benefits of enhanced trading relationships with Japan.
My name is Ray Armbruster. I'm a cow-calf producer from the Riding Mountain area in western Manitoba. I've served as a director for the Manitoba Beef Producers for the past six years. I'm currently the president of our association.
Joining me today is Cam Dahl, our general manager, and Lauren Stone, who is our policy analyst.
I'll begin by giving you a brief introduction to Manitoba Beef Producers and highlighting the importance of beef production in Manitoba's economy. Cam will follow with some specific points on the potential of a Canada-Japan trade deal.
Manitoba Beef Producers prepared a briefing note for the committee, which I believe you all have. I will not be reading this brief directly. The points that will be raised are covered in the written brief.
Manitoba Beef Producers has a producer-elected board of 14 directors from all regions of the province of Manitoba. All are dedicate men and women with a strong representation of young producers and young directors. We represent approximately 8,000 producers, a number of whom have been dropping in recent years. Market closures have contributed to the loss of producers in Manitoba.
Agriculture is an economic driver in Manitoba. The industry makes up about 28% of the province's GDP and is Manitoba's single largest, wealth-generating activity. Beef production represents Manitoba's single largest sector in terms of the number of farms and family farm operations. The economic impact of Manitoba's beef producers is large. Our industry's demand-creation power means that not only rural communities continue to survive but also other centres, such as Winnipeg and Brandon and other major urban centres, can continue to receive the extensive economic derivatives of our industry's wealth creation. Our industry creates jobs and growth in both urban as well as rural centres.
I will turn it over to Cam to continue our specific comments on the potential of an enhanced Canada-Japan trading relationship.