Agriculture committee  Yes, exactly. If the bill passes, people will realize that there is a law and that they are committing an offence. It will get the message across. If the behaviour is covered by the law, if legislation is enacted, at least people will know that their behaviour has consequences. The fines are pretty high.

Agriculture committee  Yes, precisely. Actually, they are acts of trespassing. Poultry farmers in other provinces have been victims of these incidents as well. Farmers are left to fend for themselves when it happens. Protesters show up, and the farmer loses control of the situation. Things turn chaotic, and farmers witness their birds being mistreated or otherwise disturbed.

Agriculture committee  Yes, we think the bill could be passed as is because it establishes a framework; it introduces rules and parameters. It equates the act to trespassing. Treating the act as trespassing on private property sets a clear rule.

Agriculture committee  Okay. In addition to animal health, the health of farmers is also at stake, given the psychological and physical consequences of trespassing on the farm.

Agriculture committee  Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. Honourable members of the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food, ladies and gentlemen, good afternoon. First of all, on behalf of the 731 chicken and turkey farmers in Quebec whom we represent, I would like to thank the committee for providing us this opportunity today to express our views on Bill C‑205.

International Trade committee  Things are different with chicken and turkey. We have difficulty in developing export markets. Right now, 7% of Quebec's production is exported. The province exporting the largest percentage of its production is Saskatchewan. I think it has exhausted all the possibilities in the system.

International Trade committee  That is a very important question. For us, it goes beyond the economy and deals with the survival of the system. We have a system and rules in place. We negotiated the TPP in good faith, but we do not accept it when participating countries ignore those rules. That undermines our credibility.

International Trade committee  When we are talking about reciprocity in terms of poultry, I go back to the time during the agreement when the quality of chicken in Canada was being praised to the heavens. In Canada, we know that the Canadian Food Inspection Agency is renowned for its work. The quality of our meat is very high and our standards are very strict.

International Trade committee  I'll conclude quickly, because I realize time is running out. Poultry farmers understand why the TPP was signed. We know the government has worked hard to minimize the impact on supply management. Like our colleagues, we know the agreement will stimulate job creation, and we are not opposed to that.

International Trade committee  Thank you very much. I appreciate this opportunity to express our point of view on the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement. Our organization, Les Éleveurs de volailles du Québec, brings together 814 chicken and turkey producers in Quebec. In Quebec alone, our industry employs 25,000 people, accounting for nearly $2 billion of Quebec's GDP.