These comments are direct quotations from the Hansard
documents.
Farm Income Protection
Mr. Yves Rocheleau (Trois-Rivières,
BQ): Mr. Speaker, at the end of April the UPA of Grand-Pré and the
Envir-Eau-Sol group, which consists of 72 businesses in the regional
municipality of Maskinongé, asked the Prime Minister and member for
Saint-Maurice personally to guarantee, in their words, “farm income
protection systems by increasing the amount provided within the
agricultural policy framework so that the Financière du Québec can cover
the production costs of our farmers”.
Can the Prime Minister tell us if he intends to reply in the affirmative
to the legitimate demands of these agricultural producers from his riding?
[English]
Hon. Lyle Vanclief (Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, Lib.):
Mr. Speaker, we are working with the ministries and the representatives of
the agriculture producers across Canada to put in place the announcement
that the Prime Minister and I made last June of $5.2 billion in additional
new money to help in areas of food safety, business risk management,
environment and to help build upon the work that is being done in the
provinces already, not to detract from that, but to built upon that.
Mr. Larry McCormick (Hastings—Frontenac—Lennox and Addington,
Lib.): Mr. Speaker, concern has been expressed in the agricultural
community that new products being introduced into the market could
actually harm the market unless that introduction is done responsibly.
Could the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food tell the House what is
being done to ensure the agricultural community does not suffer
unnecessary market harm from such new products?
Hon. Lyle Vanclief (Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, Lib.):
Mr. Speaker, first, we can all be very proud of the rigorous and science
based regulatory system that we have that is world renowned and highly
respected around the world. However, even taking that into consideration,
we are aware of the implications that could happen, not necessarily that
may happen, with the introduction of new products such as the member has
referred to.
I have instructed my department to work with the industry and consult with
the industry so we can come up with a process to address that. I believe
officials from my department will be at the agriculture standing committee
tomorrow and will be able to begin initial discussions on that if the
issue is raised there.
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