I'll begin by thanking all the witnesses for their comments and their support.
My question is for the representatives of the Union des producteurs agricoles. Thanks to Mr. Groleau for his presentation.
We are here today to comment on the future of trade once the pandemic is over. The current health crisis could be repeated in other forms. Some people feel that trade, for as long as we continue to promote it—and we intend to promote it even more—provides protection to various sectors and industries, the environment, human beings, forms of social justice, and agriculture.
Canada and Quebec have a supply management system. As you know, it is eminently typical of Quebec. You spoke to us about the agreement with the United Kingdom and about your fears, expectations and hopes with respect to a future renegotiated permanent agreement. We also heard from the dairy producers a short while ago. If we were to summarize their comments on this agreement it would be something like, "that was a close call."
However, this doesn't mean that there won't be other gaps in the supply management system. For example, under the agreement with the United Kingdom, their cheese producers are applying pressure for more exports. So perhaps it's only a postponement.
As you know, the Bloc Québécois tabled a bill that prohibits any weakening of the supply management system. As the different parties take their turn running the government, they continually make commitments, but end up telling us that there are gaps in the system. We want to put an end to that and we hope that any mandate for the ministers in question will include defending the supply management system.
Do you believe that this bill is a good idea?