These comments are direct quotations from the Hansard
documents.
Producer Assistance
Mr. Gerry Ritz (Battlefords—Lloydminster,
CPC): There you go, Mr. Speaker, if you have nothing to say, say it
loudly.
The Minister of Agriculture must realize by now that the agriculture
sector in this country cannot heal itself.
Two weeks ago he said that he would go back to cabinet and ask for more
money for our cash-strapped farmers.
I would like to know when he pled his case with cabinet and when farmers
across the country can expect a bankable program.
Hon. Mark Eyking (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of
Agriculture and Agri-Food (Agri-Food), Lib.): Mr. Speaker, I would
like to thank the hon. member for asking me my first question in the
House. I will try to do my best to answer it.
Over the last eight months beef farmers have faced a crisis. We have many
programs in place, such as the NISA program and the BSE program. We also
had the CAISP rolling out last month in which we put $15 million. We also
have the cull program that will be coming out. We are just waiting for
inventories from the provinces.
I can assure the hon. member that we will be there for the farmers with
more programs in the upcoming months.
Mr. Gerry Ritz (Battlefords—Lloydminster, CPC): Mr. Speaker, I
thank the parliamentary secretary for staying true to Liberal form and not
really giving us an answer.
For the first time in history Statistics Canada shows a negative $13
million balance for all agricultural sectors across the country. That is
everybody. The primary producers of our safe quality food supply are in
peril. They are going down hard.
Since the government is powerless to re-open borders, will it at least
redesign its programs to get money to the farm gate? That is the trick.
Hon. Mark Eyking (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of
Agriculture and Agri-Food (Agri-Food), Lib.): Mr. Speaker, we are
dealing with this from all angles. We are dealing with it on an
international level in Washington and we are also dealing with it at the
local level.
In 2002, $3.5 billion went to farmers. Last year we paid over $5 billion
to farmers. We will be paying more.
Mrs. Lynne Yelich (Blackstrap, CPC): Mr. Speaker, the agriculture
industry is the third largest employer of Canadians. It is one of our top
five industries. Agriculture is in a crisis. The industry is sinking and
the farmers are going down. Their loans are being called in. The industry
is on the verge of collapse. This is an emergency and needs to be treated
like an emergency.
I would like the Deputy Prime Minister to tell me if she will ask the
Prime Minister to take emergency measures to address this crisis and to do
it now.
Hon. Mark Eyking (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of
Agriculture and Agri-Food (Agri-Food), Lib.): Mr. Speaker, we are
taking measures on all angles to deal with this agriculture issue. It is
not the third but the second most important industry in this country. We
are dealing with it in Washington. We are dealing with it on an
international basis. We are dealing with the farmers and we are working
with the stakeholders and the beef industry to deal with this issue down
in the United States.
Mrs. Lynne Yelich (Blackstrap, CPC): Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point
of order. I want to make a correction to what the parliamentary secretary
said when he quoted me as saying that agriculture was not the third but
the second most important industry in Canada. My words were “It was the
third largest employer and one of the top five industries of the
nation”. I did not say as he indicated. I would like that corrected.
The Deputy Speaker: The House will recognize that is not
respectfully a point of order. The matter of clarification has been put on
the record in the House.
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