Agriculture committee  Thank you, Mr. Louis. Actually, you asked one of the questions I was going to ask. I'd like to continue directing my questions to you, Ms. Pfenning. I appreciate what you're doing as an organic farmer. In my constituency there are several of them, including Southbrook Vineyards and Bill Redelmeier, Frank's Organics, Joyfully Organic Farm.

Agriculture committee  It does. I think it's one really good example. I think the other thing is that often these estimates are based on people not reacting to the price signals. It's kind of the status quo, and let's look at what would happen if the price was put on, and people don't.... As you say, there are a lot of innovative, creative solutions that we can come up with by co-operating.

Agriculture committee  Thank you very much. Thanks for sharing your time. Thank you to all the witnesses for being here. It's an incredibly important conversation, because I think confronting the challenges of climate change and pollution while supporting our farmers is what's needed. I was very encouraged by the conversation Mr.

Agriculture committee  Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you very much, Mr. Louis, for introducing this private member's bill. I know it was a commitment our government had made and it was going to be fulfilled—I know Minister MacAulay is supportive of this—but I appreciate the fact that you put it forward in a private member's bill so it could be dealt with sooner.

Agriculture committee  That's fantastic. Thank you. Also, the value of the Canadian dollar was impacting grocery prices—

Agriculture committee  —so the more we produce here, the better. You're saying to not just look at farming but also at some of the secondary and tertiary manufacturing as well, and at doing more here. I agree. Of course, that would also help with our climate change issues.

Agriculture committee  The shorter the distance we transport things, the less we have to pay for the rising costs of gas and fuel as well. That's one interesting.... Do you work to support any Canadian manufacturers or businesses? Do you extend vertically at all in your chain?

Agriculture committee  Okay.

Agriculture committee  I have one last question. It's just on the independent grocers. We value small business in Canada. We value local services and our downtowns. A lot of them are the local independent grocers. What do you think can be done to help them compete against some of the larger chains that are right now dominating the market?

Agriculture committee  I'm not sure that my independent grocers would agree with wanting that, but I understand what you're saying. Thank you.

Agriculture committee  Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you, Mr. Riel, for being here. I appreciate your code of conduct and ethics that you have in Costco. I know that you have been co-operating and working with the government. Thank you for your submission. However, we still are dealing with high grocery costs.

Agriculture committee  It is.

Agriculture committee  Yes.

Agriculture committee  We've been trying to get Bill C-59 passed since the fall, and the Conservative Party has been very against Bill C-59. Recently we found out that Jenni Byrne, who is advising the Conservative Party and joins their caucus advising their leader, is actually a consultant or a lobbyist, we could say, for Loblaws.

Agriculture committee  At this committee, we're looking at grocery prices. There has been progress, but we want them to come further and we want stability. From your perspective, would it be useful in this study to recommend that the changes in Bill C-59 be adopted? Would that be useful in addressing some of the concerns you have?