These comments are direct quotations from the Hansard
documents.
Federal Government Inaction
Ms. Denise Poirier-Rivard
(Châteauguay—Saint-Constant, BQ): Mr. Speaker, Quebec farmers,
along with the Bloc Québécois, are speaking out against the federal
government's inaction in managing the mad cow crisis. The federal Minister
of Agriculture and Agri-Food had set aside money to help cattle producers,
but the measures proposed were not adequate.
If the Minister of
Agriculture and Agri-Food wants to do something useful for Quebec
producers, why is he not doing his part by providing $11.4 million,
which would represent 60% of the cost of production, making it possible to
set a floor price of 42¢ a pound?
[English]
Hon. Andy Mitchell
(Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, the
reality is that actions have been taken. For instance, the Canadian Dairy
Commission has provided a $5 increase in the price of milk, a portion of
which has been allocated to deal with the issue of older animals.
Second, in the
contemplated rule change that the U.S. has put forward, the ability to
ship meat from older animals is one of the considerations and this would
have a positive impact.
Finally, as the hon.
member knows, we have been working very closely with the officials in the
province of Quebec to determine what additional measures would be in
order.
[Translation]
Ms. Denise Poirier-Rivard
(Châteauguay—Saint-Constant, BQ): Mr. Speaker, during a meeting
with the leader of the Bloc Québécois, Quebec's cattle producers
repeated that the federal Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food's plan did
not meet their needs. One way to improve the minister's plan would be to
provide financial support for the two proposals to purchase
slaughterhouses, which would have a solid impact on Quebec's cattle
production.
Will the minister respond
favourably to the wishes of Quebec farmers?
[English]
Hon. Andy Mitchell
(Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, we have
been very clear about our public policy in respect of slaughter capacity.
We will support projects that increase the amount of capacity available to
producers. That is the public policy. I have made it very clear to
officials in Quebec that any proposal which deals with increasing capacity
will be looked at very carefully.
|
