Yes, they are and the hon. member knows it if he watches the grain prices. The temptation and the desire is always there to want to escape from the wheat board and deal independently. When prices are low then that opinion shifts and some of those grain growers then want the protection of the wheat board again.
They want a dual system where grain can be marketed independently or not. How in the world is the wheat board going to survive in that situation? In a year of higher prices there will be a shift
away from the wheat board and all of those employees and all of that wonderful infrastructure that is set up to market wheat sits idle. Then in a year when prices go down there will be a run back to the wheat board again and all of sudden it has to get back in gear.
It is totally unacceptable to operate in that way in international markets. Either we go all the way in marketing grain outside of the wheat board or we keep the wheat board. Let me tell the hon. member that as long as there is a majority of farmers in Canada who want the wheat board maintained then the wheat board will be maintained. If there was a great movement away from the wheat board, if the majority of farmers did not want the wheat board, the government would not be forcing it down their throats.
My hon. friends will have all sorts of time to debate this at the agriculture committee. They will be able to go there whether they are members of not and sit down and express their concerns. They will be listened to. I happen to sit on that committee and I will make sure that they are listened to.