Mr. Speaker, my question is for the minister responsible for the Canadian Wheat Board.
Farmers are concerned that the Canadian Wheat Board has set artificially low prices for initial payments on crops sold through the board. In fact, the current price for feed barley, after freight and elevation charges, nets the farmer 18¢ a bushel. It costs more to deliver the barley than the farmer receives as payment. Not only is this appalling, but it has to be an embarrassment to this government.
At a time when farmers are cash strapped, will the minister take the necessary steps to ensure an increase in the initial price for all grains to put some extra cash in the pockets of farmers and to do that without administration costs?