Agriculture committee  Training is actually accessible. We even have schools that offer training in beekeeping, such as the Collège d'Alma. However, smaller beekeepers, for example, may want to have a hive on their lawn, behind their house, but have no idea how difficult it can be to manage a hive. They have to use veterinarians.

Agriculture committee  I think it would be approval of the various treatments.

Agriculture committee  That is also our recommendation.

Agriculture committee  In Quebec at present a lot of research is being done about queen bees. The projects focus specifically on two techniques. First, some research projects focus on creating a reserve of queens. In other words, instead of putting a single queen in the hive to spend the winter, you put 40 there.

Agriculture committee  We have to wait too long to get funds from the federal programs. As well, the funds are insufficient. Honestly, my business recorded losses last year. Had it not been for the over-wintering insurance offered by Financière agricole du Québec, I might not be sitting here talking to you today.

Agriculture committee  Yes, absolutely. We even need a research centre in Quebec. The existing centre is functional, but there must absolutely be more research done there.

Agriculture committee  Thank you very much. Hi, everyone. I'm the first vice-president of the Quebec association. I have no trouble speaking English, but my mother tongue is French, so I am going to continue my presentation in French. My name is Maggie Lamothe Boudreau and I am the first vice-president of the Apiculteurs et Apicultrices du Québec.