These comments are direct quotations from the Hansard
documents.
Agricultural Policy Framework
Mr.
Louis Plamondon (Bas-Richelieu—Nicolet—Bécancour, BQ): Mr.
Speaker, the Canadian agricultural income stabilization program only
provides grain producers with compensation based on the average price of
grain for the past five years, a depressed price because of U.S. and
European subsidies. Unfortunately, Ottawa's rigidity forces Quebec and its
farmers to apply blanket Canada-wide rules and precludes the development
of truly suitable programs.
What is the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food waiting for to relax the
support program and the agricultural policy framework, and allow the money
to be used to meet the needs of the agricultural industry?
[English]
Hon. Mark Eyking (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of
Agriculture and Agri-Food (Agri-Food), Lib.): Mr. Speaker, we have
many programs available to help farmers throughout the country, whether in
Quebec or out west, when margins go down in their income. There is money
available for farmers right across the country, even in Quebec.
|
