Thank you, Mr. Chairman. My questions will be shorter than those of Mr. Goodale. That way, the witness will have more time left to answer.
My question is nevertheless important. It is a fundamental question I have been concerned with since the beginning and that I have asked of all witnesses who have appeared before us. We have heard contradictory versions. You have raised indirectly, as did Mr. Goodale, my main concern.
If the single desk for barley is abolished, what will the consequences be for producers? This is my basic concern. Will it be possible for an individual producer to negotiate a better price than what he would get through the board? Are producers individually in a position to get prices that are as good as those of the board?
Mr. Goodale asked that question and you did not provide a complete answer: are individual producers in a position to compete on the world markets in the absence of a single desk? This is my concern.
What will the impact be on producers? Are we going to see prices drop? Will we not be faced with increased competition between all those producers so that, ultimately, prices will decrease? This is my concern.