These comments are direct quotations from the Hansard
documents.
Low Commodity Prices
Mr. Russ Powers (Ancaster—Dundas—Flamborough—Westdale,
Lib.): Mr. Speaker, the corn producers of my riding are economically
threatened by the extremely low commodity prices in Ontario as compared to
prices paid for U.S. imports and to other Canadian producers. They are in
fact being paid less than their production costs.
Will the Minister of
Agriculture and Agri-Food advise me as to what action may be taken to
assist the corn producers of my riding so that they can realistically
continue to grow their produce for all Canadians?
Hon. Andy Mitchell
(Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, corn
producers are facing challenges in Ontario, which is why we have provided
over $82 million through the CAIS program to producers in Ontario and why
we have made changes in the program to cover negative margins to increase
the cap.
That is why I am working
with my provincial colleagues to contemplate additional changes. That is
why the parliamentary secretary is taking a close look at structural
changes within the various commodity sectors to deal with long term
declines in income. That is why we are working within the WTO to make sure
that our producers are able to compete on a level playing field. That is
why collectively in 2003 we provided $4.8 billion of assistance to
producers.
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