Agriculture  Mr. Speaker, Canada's food supply is in serious jeopardy. Canadian farm income is showing the three worst years in history. Farms and our farm families are being forced out of production. Will the hon. Minister of Agriculture act today to provide immediate aid to farmers so they can put seeds in the ground this spring?

Agriculture  Mr. Speaker, $500 million a year is not enough. Now is the time to act. It is shameful that the country's food supply is being seriously compromised. It is being compromised because our farmers cannot make ends meet. Canada's farmers and all Canadians deserve better. Is the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food prepared to act now to resolve the farm income crisis?

Canada's Commitment in Afghanistan  Mr. Chair, when we talk about goals and objectives, we have been asking, “Is it right to think about the goals and objectives of this mission?” I would like to get the member's opinion. Should we be more precise when we ask this? Instead of just asking what the goals and objectives are, should we be asking, for example, are the warlords there implicated in the opium trade and are they part of the government?

Resumption of debate on Address in Reply  Mr. Speaker, it is not that we have supported the government. First of all, I agree with the member with regard to the child care program. What we want is to have this program sustainable for many years, not just for one year. It is important to distinguish child care as opposed to babysitting.

Resumption of debate on Address in Reply  Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the hon. member for his question. What can I say? We could use the Quebec model in the rest of Canada. That system works well. We could set up a similar system in Canada. It would be the best thing to do for our country.

Resumption of debate on Address in Reply  Mr. Speaker, it is indeed an honour for me to be here. As a school teacher, when I studied government with my students, I emphasized the fact that politics was indeed an honourable profession. All of us are here because we want to serve our country. In my case, I became involved in politics because I am concerned about the future of my country.

Resumption of debate on Address in Reply  Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the hon. member for her very timely and very, very important remarks. In my riding, elder care is deteriorating daily because of a lack of commitment by our provincial government. I would ask my colleague whether she thinks the federal government needs to target transfer payments, to ensure that the money transferred to the provinces is used to help our seniors.

Tuition Fees  Mr. Speaker, a few weeks ago, I met with students at Selkirk College in Castlegar. They presented me with more than 400 cards, representing half the students at the college, and asked that we take action to reduce tuition fees. In 2005, B.C. students paid an average tuition fee of $4,874, up from $2,592 in 2001.

Agriculture  Mr. Chair, I would like to thank the hon. minister for his vision on agriculture for Canada. I have had a concern for the past few years, even before I got into politics. It concerns me when I hear that Canada is trying to play by the rules, that we want to negotiate lowering subsidies in other countries.

Agriculture  Mr. Chair, I appreciate my hon. colleague's question and statements. I would like to commit myself and those in our party to work together with others to do something. The people we talked to today at the demonstration are looking to us for leadership. It is not a time to say that the provinces have to do this or that.

Agriculture  Mr. Chair, we are in a crisis situation. I have said this before and I will say it again, we are better positioned this year with our hon. members on this side of the House to work together with the minister, to work together with the cabinet and, yes, let us put pressure on the finance minister.

Agriculture  Mr. Chair, I think we first have to educate the consumer. I do not think we have done enough. Nobody has done enough to show the average consumer what the farmer is getting and where it is coming from. Parallel to this, I think we have to make it easier to produce in Canada. In the region where I live, we have greenhouses for tomatoes and cucumbers.

Agriculture  Mr. Chair, obviously the member has been doing his homework too. His remarks reflect what I have been hearing when I talk to representatives of the agricultural industry and to farmers, which is that we must be very careful. We must not allow our supply management system to be watered down.

Agriculture  Mr. Chair, it is an honour to be here with my esteemed and experienced colleagues who have spoken. I am hoping to add a few words to this debate. Our rural way of life is under threat. Agriculture in Canada is facing a crisis. And that crisis has a negative effect on rural lifestyles.

Agriculture  Mr. Speaker, I have just listened for a while to the farmers who are presently in front of the Parliament Buildings. They are protesting, and rightly so, the fact that farmers across Canada cannot make ends meet. I am encouraged by the statement of the hon. Minister of Agriculture this morning specifically on the need to the replace CAIS, but we need help now.