Agriculture committee  One of the problems we have in smaller livestock production is that private funding is really hard to get, whether it's for rabbits or lamb, or whatever. Private companies don't see much profit possible from investment in research in such production. So it's really hard for us to

Agriculture committee  Yes, we are, but as your colleague Mr. Easter mentioned, when you take time to get that money, with all the administration that needs to be done around that, it uses energy that cannot be put on research itself .

Agriculture committee  This is not my specific field of expertise, but if my memory doesn't trick me, I believe that sheep producers were forgotten in the first edition of the financial help program for the BSE crisis. It was really hard for them to get through that, while their market was closed as fo

Agriculture committee  The program wasn't cancelled, because it wasn't a program itself; it was a project. When you present any research project, there's always a deadline to it. You have to complete all the work within a timeframe of one, two, or three years. For that specific project, the deadline wa

Agriculture committee  For my part, I would say—and I am responsible for R and D projects at CEPOQ—that I spend really a small part of my time doing funding research. I mostly work on the projects, on analysis of the protocols, writing, and everything. So for my part, it's not that huge, because we can

Agriculture committee  It's intended for domestic consumption. There was a little trade with the United States before the borders were closed because of the BSE crisis. There was a little trade, but it was mainly in live animals because our sheep are recognized for their good breeding. As regards meat

Agriculture committee  We import an enormous amount, mainly from New Zealand.

Agriculture committee  In fact, you're asking me the question during a transition period because, on June 1, a selling agency will be put in place by the Fédération des producteurs d'agneaux et moutons du Québec. So that's a first for sheep production in Quebec. However, since it's not yet in place, I

Agriculture committee  It's a concern. Mr. Desjardins was right: putting in place a selling agency won't bring about a closing of the borders, not at all. Instead it will serve to identify the product. There will be a promotion of the Quebec product. However, that doesn't solve the problem of the major

Agriculture committee  It has indirectly, because here we mostly keep the sheep in the barn. That is a problem, because you use straw and you use la ripe de bois—wood chips. Those things get into the wool and are really bad when transforming the product. But the main problem with it is really the qua

Agriculture committee  Our region is the biggest sheep breeding region in Quebec. It's here that you find the largest number of farms and the largest number of animals as well.

Agriculture committee  I think that through CDAQ, the Province of Quebec already works in part with Agriculture Canada, because they are directing those funds towards our specific provincial needs. However, regarding R and D on sheep, at CEPOQ we have about 35% of our income coming from MAPAQ, that is

Agriculture committee  One of the problems that I think affects not only sheep production is that consumer expectations and demand are changing at a very rapid pace. Some producers that have herds have been following specific objectives for 10 years. However, consumers can tell them from one day to the

Agriculture committee  To be honest, if sheep didn't have any wool it would have been paradise, because in Canada you only get a few cents per pound for wool. It's really hard to compete with the international competitors, because we have meat breeds here in Canada, while other countries specialize in

Agriculture committee  When you look at the situation, we have 140 different breeds in Canada, so that is the first concern. Besides, we are not promoting a unique way to produce lamb, we're promoting a financially viable way to produce lamb, and it has to be with respect for the breeders' strengths a