Agriculture committee  In Quebec, we used the figures put out by the Ontario office. However, we did not take into account shortfalls and the decline in property value, because it was difficult for us to argue on this issue. We did not do any studies. The AGÉCO group did a study to support the price per pound for quotas that were lost and the price of machinery, but that was not taken into account.

Agriculture committee  That is pretty much the situation. We have received some invitations from the new minister, but it pretty well stops there. In the case of Quebec, as I mentioned, we have been waiting three years already, and people are really running out of steam. Clearly, we discussed the situation of Ontario producers, which is definitely not rosy.

Agriculture committee  There are 58.

Agriculture committee  We are talking about significant amounts of money, of course, and the way in which these quotas are actually managed creates quite a different image. The situation was that traditionally, in Quebec, people were still producing 60 % of their basic quotas, roughly, particularly toward the end.

Agriculture committee  Exactly, we want our fair share.

Agriculture committee  At the moment, this involves almost all of them. There are only three still in production, and they have cut back a great deal. So we could say that 92% of people are no longer growing tobacco. They are growing different crops, as I said, and the economic situation is very fragile, because of the significant investments involved.

Agriculture committee  About 25% of them have.

Agriculture committee  They are still doing research and conducting tests. There are a number of examples I could mention. In my own case, I tried to grow beans, among other things. The first year, the yield was very good. It was interesting and great, except that when it came time to deliver our product, the purchaser was insolvent.

Agriculture committee  Okay. The presentation will be in French, if there's no problem.

Agriculture committee  Good morning, and thank you for giving us an opportunity to present the views of the tobacco farmers of Quebec. We are all from the Office des producteurs de tabac jaune du Québec. My name is Christian Boisjoly, and I am the Regional Director of the Lanoraie District and Linguistic Advisor, and with me is Nicolas Asselin, the Secretary Treasurer, who should be here shortly, and Luc Hervieux, the Vice-President.