Agriculture committee  Yes, we have a position on them. We do not support that approach. We recognize landowner rights. We believe in landowner empowerment. Ultimately, if you want to have a real impact on the farm landscape in this country, you have to get producers to act on your behalf. We are the original conservationists, as farmers.

Agriculture committee  I'll respond on behalf of the ALUS initiative. We are producers. Every one of us who supported this program, who worked on the development, went home, and farmed at night. We're representing all the farm organizations across Canada. All the provincial ones have signed onto this through CFA.

Agriculture committee  Thank you very much, and thank you, Mr. Chair and committee members, for the opportunity to speak to you. ALUS differs from other environmental programs in three fundamental ways. First, it is a farmer-driven environmental incentive program. The ALUS concept was initiated by Keystone Agricultural Producers of Manitoba with assistance from Delta Waterfowl Foundation.