Jacques Gourde

Mr. Speaker, whether we are talking about a new Liberal government or an old Liberal government, it is a Liberal government that is no good at math. For the past 10 years, the same Liberals have been ruining our country. Canada has lost more than 100,000 jobs since the start of the year. Business investment per worker has fallen by 25% since the last Conservative government and investment in [more]

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'm pleased to break the ice for this important study. As an introduction, can you tell us how long the business risk management program has existed in Canada?

It would be better to respond in writing. Written words stay; words fly away.

I'm going to ask another more technical question on the advance payments program, or APP, which is part of the risk management programs. The APP is managed by a third party. Producers are entitled to receive a certain amount, determined based on their livestock and acreage. The amount isn't necessarily the same for every producer. However, rather than the money coming directly from their [more]

That's perfect. It is a financial risk management program that doesn't necessarily take production costs into account, but it does consider the business's financial evolution and financial risks, regardless of the sector. That's pretty complex. This program was implemented so that we'd comply with the World Trade Organization's standards, correct?

Under international agreements, there are certain things that can be subsidized in agriculture, and there are other areas that require caution, particularly in the context of trade and related matters. Canada was keen to have a financial risk management program. Was this program specially designed by the department for Canadians or was inspiration drawn from what other countries were doing?

Except it's more complicated than that. In reality, producers are stuck negotiating between the APP and their main creditor, which may be their bank or, in many cases, Farm Credit Canada. In Quebec, it's the Financière agricole du Québec or simply a line of credit from their financial institution. However, producers have to share their collateral. The first financial institution will not [more]

We're going to add them now. From there, if they don't need to come back, they won't need to come back. However, I want to have them there.

We're always open, including holding additional meetings if we have a deadline for June or if we don't have to finish more quickly. That's also possible. It's up to the committee.

Mr. Chair, I think we're victims of our own success in this study. We still have a huge number of witnesses to meet. We haven't seen my witnesses, for that matter. I'm going to put forward a motion that we have one or two extra meetings. That would be really important.

I'm asking for two, in case we don't have enough.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. My question is for the team from the Université du Québec en Abitibi‑Témiscamingue. In 2008, a truly disastrous global crisis took place. Canada put in place its economic action plan, which was implemented in 2009, 2010 and 2011. I remember making an announcement on forage research in Abitibi‑Témiscamingue, which is a very beautiful region, by the way. We know that, in [more]