Canada-China Relations committee  Specifically, with respect to any future trade agreements, it's a focus on science- and rules-based trade, as I've referenced before. It's critical to ensure quality for industry.

Canada-China Relations committee  As I said, we've utilized the WTO dispute settlement mechanism. We have a precedent in one particular instance that we can and do reference when dealing with our trading relationship with, really, our largest partner. That's one scenario. Another scenario is really addressing some of these challenges, these non-tariff barriers, right up front on initiation of these agreements and working, obviously, very much in part with our trade negotiators to ensure that our concerns are being heard and that we're really being represented in a fair agreement.

Canada-China Relations committee  Yes. I think that's fair to say. I will say that it's very common to see disruptions to trade. It impacts different parts of the country differently. We really pride ourselves on being able to pivot to really optimize the situations and conditions we're dealt with.

Canada-China Relations committee  Absolutely. Just to reference some of our own data with respect to market development, we see that for our own producer dollars put into it, we get a payback of 5:1. The way I think I see it is that we see these offices really as a way to further leverage some of those investments that we're already making and to really help address issues as they come up.

Canada-China Relations committee  Honestly, we're at such an early stage in the announcement of the use of that office that I think it's kind of too early to tell. What I will say is that I'll echo the comments I heard earlier from our colleagues in the canola industry. This region is built on long-term relationships.

Canada-China Relations committee  I'll go back to my original statement relating to our suggestion that our industry believes that we should start looking into the possibility of taking trade action against China to address this issue. As I said, we've had experience with this in the past, unfortunately, so we're already starting to have those conversations.

Canada-China Relations committee  Yes, it's very much a sensitive issue. Actually, as part of some of those conversations, we've talked to some of the other commodity groups, agricultural commodity groups, in relaying this concern that we have and appreciating the fact that there is a possible risk associated with that going forward.

Canada-China Relations committee  Thank you so much for your question. I'm sorry. I don't understand French well enough to follow you. I would say unequivocally that the details of these trade agreements matter. Specifically, the dispute settlement mechanisms matter. We've had positive experiences with the WTO's dispute settlement mechanisms in addressing some of these non-tariff trade barriers, and what we have found is that those mechanisms can set precedents that set the tone of trade going forward.

Canada-China Relations committee  Thanks for the question. I appreciate it. It's obviously a multi-faceted answer. To be clear, the beef industry in Canada has been challenged over the last three or four years at least with some pretty debilitating droughts. That has really commanded the direction of our cow herd, yet we've been able to make advances in the yield of beef per animal.

Canada-China Relations committee  In particular, the Japanese market is number two on our list of high-value markets of export destinations for Canadian beef. It continues to represent one of the top priorities. In particular, the difference that CPTPP made to that market was that it put us in a better competitive position based on a lower tariff rate than our competitors.

Canada-China Relations committee  In particular, I referenced in my opening comments the WOAH or World Organisation for Animal Health. It sets guidelines on how science should intersect with trade. Those, along with WTO rules, are really what set the stage for a country like Canada, which, arguably, can't wield the political power to access some of these markets.

Canada-China Relations committee  Thank you for the opportunity to appear before the committee to discuss the Canadian beef sector's experience with the People's Republic of China. I'm a beef producer from Birtle, Manitoba, and I currently serve as the foreign trade chair and vice-president of the Canadian Cattle Association.

Industry committee  Just very briefly, I would echo everything that Melanie just said. It's important to address the labour shortage we have in rural areas, and a piece of that puzzle might be more accessible transportation. The reality is that it's a struggle to attract new Canadian workers and keep them in rural areas.

Industry committee  We really do see the cattle sector as providing that really important diversified landscape that provides resilience against flooding and droughts. I'll give you an example of a drought scenario. Many crops that were not feasible for human consumption were redirected and used in the livestock sector, particularly in the cattle sector, which made the whole system more resilient.

Industry committee  We're living climate change weekly, it seems, if not annually. I can say that the eastern part of the Prairies was impacted by pretty significant flooding this year as well. We're just seeing major shifts one way or the other. Critically, we need systems that make us all more resilient.