Foreign Affairs committee  That's correct. The UN Secretary-General is asking all nations not to put tariffs on fertilizer.

Foreign Affairs committee  If you're asking me, I would say yes. Nitrogen fertilizer is essential to grow food. People need food; plants need food.

Foreign Affairs committee  I'll let you answer that question.

Foreign Affairs committee  I think your points are correct. This tariff has had an impact. We estimate it at about $200 million for that growing season. The $30-million program that was announced hasn't come to fruition. That program is not a direct payment to farmers; it is a program for environmental goods and activities related to fertilizer.

Foreign Affairs committee  The short answer is that how to facilitate that kind of investment hasn't been fully explored. As you know, in Camlachie there is a plant that could expand. I have heard that they haven't expanded because of the business environment in Ontario in the past. There was also a pretty serious investigation into building a facility in Quebec.

Foreign Affairs committee  It's the competition with other countries. Fertilizer is a commodity, just like grain. If we're not competitive and the price isn't right to invest in Canada, people aren't going to do it. If there are additional expenses in Canada versus the U.S., they're going to invest in the U.S.

Foreign Affairs committee  Thank you for inviting me to speak to you today. This is an important topic that your committee is examining. I'm here representing the Grain Farmers of Ontario. We are Ontario's largest commodity organization. We represent 28,000 grain and oilseed farmers. We farm on seven million acres.