Agriculture committee  We are working hard, together with our producers, to ensure that Canadian products are properly labelled and traceable. Livestock identification at the farm lies at the heart of any great labelling and tracing system. Since 2002, Quebec producers have practised livestock identification on all animals from the moment they are born until the time they are sent to the slaughterhouse.

Agriculture committee  Let me say a few words about the growth of beef imports from the U.S. If we compare 2004 and 2005, we see an 18% increase. From 2005 to 2006, we see a 25% increase. Thus, that makes a 43% increase in beef imports from the U.S. alone. Canada's beef production industry is in a crisis.

Agriculture committee  As Mr. Wildeman said, we have been asking for harmonization since 2003, but in many areas, we are still waiting. If anything has changed, it is that standards have become even more stringent in Canada. The Canadian sector is unable to export. Yes, the high dollar is not helping, but that is something that we have always managed to handle.

Agriculture committee  I have a different view of the current situation. For many years in Quebec we have been exploring the option of assisting producers on a cost-of-production basis. For many years we have been telling the Canadian government that it is asking Canadian producers to compete with governments in other countries.

Agriculture committee  Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would also like to thank the committee for giving us the opportunity to engage in dialogue. Since May 2003, Canada's beef industry has been going through a great crisis, that of BSE. The crisis has brought to light two fundamental weaknesses in the beef industry: its double dependence on the slaughterhouses and on the American market.