These comments are direct quotations from the Hansard
documents.
Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Mrs. Rose-Marie Ur
(Lambton—Kent—Middlesex, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, Tuesday's budget
contained an extra $100 million over two years for the Canadian Food
Inspection Agency. Can the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food tell this
House in what areas he intends to allocate these dollars?
Hon. Lyle Vanclief (Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, Lib.):
Mr. Speaker, I am certainly pleased that in the budget the government
recognized the important role of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, and
the safety and the quality of Canadian food by further providing another
$100 million over two years.
It will allow the agency to continue to enhance food safety in Canada. The
regulatory system, along with the border control, will ensure the safety
of food exported from our country to other countries and imported from
other countries. It will ensure the health of Canadians as well as the
health of animals and plants in Canada.
Mr. David Anderson (Cypress Hills—Grasslands, Canadian Alliance):
Mr. Speaker, the Liberal government has repeatedly demonstrated to
Canadians that it has become arrogant, self-serving and dictatorial. Now
it is at it again.
We are witnessing the public spectacle of the government ramming
agricultural policy down the throats of producers. The minister insists
that his new agricultural policy framework must take effect on April 1
even though producer organizations across the country vigorously and
unanimously oppose his arbitrary deadline.
If farm policy is for farmers, why is he ramming it through without their
consent?
Hon. Lyle Vanclief (Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, Lib.):
Mr. Speaker, the hon. member knows full well that the present provincial
and federal agreements end at the end of March.
The government will not stand by and have the situation happen where there
is no disaster program for farmers for this year; no federal co-operation
and no money going to farmers through the federal-provincial programs for
not only business risk management but for food safety and the environment.
The industry and the provincial ministers and government have been working
on this for 18 months. We need to get it done for farmers by the first of
April of this year.
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