I think the success of Canadian pork and beef sectors cannot be expected from a new trade agreement, because there is lots of room to export into Europe from both sectors. We need to have a close look in Canada at the profitability at the farm level of those sectors. They are clearly lacking.
As we have deteriorated supply management, starting with the WTO—right away, a 3.5% loss in the supply management sector—we have increased market access, but we have, at the same time, allowed the market within Canada to be open for importation. For every success that the beef and the pork sectors claim for export, we import at least the same amount, if not more. I think, from an economic perspective, we shouldn't be so gung-ho on more trade agreements if we lose internal market all the time.
It is the profitability that is lacking. I think there's only way of fixing it, and that is to focus less on trade and to focus more on profitability on the farm. That is exactly what supply management accomplishes.
Rural Canada has been in a downturn for a long time. It is only the supply management sectors in agriculture that have withstood that deterioration. Any other way of improving profitability in the farming community, I welcome, but I do know supply management is one of them.