Thank you, Madam Chair.
I want to thank the committee members for the opportunity to be here today to ask a few questions regarding an issue that has kept me busy in recent years.
In concrete terms, I've enjoyed working very passionately with the people in the Canadian agricultural sector.
I also want to thank you, Ms. Robinson. I was very pleased to work with you.
Obviously, one issue has been of greater concern to us than other issues in recent months, especially in Quebec. That issue is dairy production.
Although there has yet to be an announcement on compensation for the new free trade agreement with the United States, we expected the government to tell us its intentions before asking us to sign the agreement. We haven't heard any news. We still don't know what will happen to the remaining seven years of compensation for the other agreements previously announced. We're also concerned about this issue.
We expected that the dairy processors would receive compensation, but we've had no news on that front. There's still absolutely nothing for egg and poultry farmers.
You can appreciate why it's important for us, on the opposition side, to have the opportunity to ask you questions about this free trade agreement. That's why we want to thank you for being here to answer these questions.
Last week, I was particularly surprised to hear the presentation given by Chrystia Freeland, Deputy Prime Minister, who was here at the Standing Committee on International Trade.
I listened carefully to her presentation. In response to a question about the new export tariffs on milk proteins, such as skim milk powder or infant formula, Ms. Freeland said that the supply management sector was consulted extensively regarding the imposition of export tariffs on powdered milk.
I would translate that as “consulté intensément.” You're part of the supply management sector, because you were the representatives of the Dairy Farmers of Canada. Do you consider that you were “consulted extensively” on the Canadian government's new approach?