Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Thank you to the witnesses for attending today.
I will say that I've listened with interest in relation to the issue of the first right of refusal. I was a lawyer before this life and I do understand it. I've been involved in many commercial transactions that deal with it. Although there may seem to be no positive implications or negative obligation on landowners for fair market value, I would suggest that if a family wants to transfer land for value to another family member and to keep it in the family, indeed that first right of refusal will negate the ability to do so.
From my perspective, I think enough has been done over the years in this area, especially to francophone families and others, to take land away from families who have had it for centuries, if not decades, at least. So I do think, from that perspective, the government is treading lightly, because certainly those implications are not positive. And I do want to say that, and put that on the record, because it may not create an obligation on the landowners, but it does negate any opportunity to sell to family members and to keep it in the family.