These comments are direct quotations from the Hansard
documents.
Support for Producers
Ms.
Belinda Stronach (Newmarket—Aurora, CPC): Mr. Speaker, in just over
a week the U.S. border should open again for younger cattle, but the Prime
Minister's failure for more than a year and a half to get that border open
has caused devastating losses to the entire cattle sector.
Worse, the media report that Alberta truckers and feedlot owners fear
there will be another six months to a year of harassment at the border.
Many truckers have already gone to the oil patch and others will just not
bother trying. The border will be open on paper, but not in practice.
When the trade minister was in Washington for the first time recently, did
he receive assurances from the U.S. government that it will not harass
Canadian truckers and open the border for real on March 7?
Hon. Andy Mitchell (Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, Lib.):
Mr. Speaker, as the hon. member is well aware, the USDA put forward at the
end of December a revised rule that would govern how the border would be
open to younger cattle. That rule is based on science. Officials on both
sides of the border are working with each other to develop the necessary
protocols to bring that into effect.
Ms. Belinda Stronach (Newmarket—Aurora, CPC): Mr. Speaker, to add
insult to injury each truck carrying live cattle into the U.S. starting
March 7 will be inspected individually. This higher administrative cost
will be passed on to the Canadian producer at between $5 and $15 a head
extra. More holdups and more delays.
Has the minister negotiated with the Americans a special protocol for
clearing our cattle faster and if not, when will he do that?
Hon. Andy Mitchell (Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, Lib.):
Mr. Speaker, as I mentioned in my answer to the first question, officials
on both the Canadian side and the U.S. side are in the midst of
discussions in anticipation of the rule coming into force. They will
ensure that the regulatory regime that will be necessary to facilitate
trade is put in place and they will work on that in a manner that works
for producers as well as consumers.
Mr. Gerry Ritz (Battlefords—Lloydminster, CPC): Mr. Speaker, the
lack of any meaningful commitment to agriculture producers in this budget
is appalling. An industry struggling to cope with a myriad of problems
received .3% of the Liberals' $42 billion wish list. That is an insult.
Is this pathetic attempt a reflection of the finance minister's ignorance
on the issue or the agriculture minister's incompetence?
Hon. Andy Mitchell (Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, Lib.):
Mr. Speaker, the comments from the hon. member are utter nonsense. He
ignores the almost $2 billion that has gone to assist the beef and cattle
industry. He ignores the fact that in the first two years of the new
business risk management program $700 million beyond what was originally
projected to be spent will flow to producers.
The reality is that there has been substantial support for producers
across the country. We have done that in the past and we will continue to
do that in the future.
Mr. Gerry Ritz (Battlefords—Lloydminster, CPC): Mr. Speaker, if
the minister was to show that indignation at the cabinet table, we might
actually get a program that he can deliver. The minister can repeat all
the big numbers he wants, but his record on delivery five days or five
years from now is despicable. It is one of failure and a litany of
excuses.
The minister finally got the message that the cash deposit on CAIS had to
go, but like everything else in this budget, it is a promise without a
deadline. Will the minister stand up right now and give us an exact date
when that ridiculous requirement will be gone?
Hon. Andy Mitchell (Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, Lib.):
Mr. Speaker, what the hon. member conveniently ignores, which is not the
case that he puts in his question, is that real money has gone to real
producers to assist them with real needs.
I know it does not fit the member's political agenda to have to admit
that, but the reality is, and all those folks over there should listen,
the real money has gone to real producers to deal with real issues and not
simply the rhetoric that we hear from the other side.
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