Ms. Wowchuk, I read in the newspapers today that you were prepared to hold a referendum in Manitoba. Mr. Wartman and you also made some very interesting comments about supply management.
Personally, I've probably been the target of more attacks than my colleagues from other parties, because I've expressed the concerns voiced in Quebec about the Canadian Wheat Board, which is a collective marketing tool, much like supply management. I didn't draw comparisons and claim that both mechanisms were identical. Rather, I stated that there are two collective marketing tools in Canada, namely the Canadian Wheat Board and supply management, both of which have been under attack for some time now at the WTO, the World Trade Organization, and in particular from the United States and the European Union.
My question is this: if the Canadian government strips the Canadian Wheat Board of its powers, what will it do next?
However, I am happy to see that we share the same view, because I'm hearing from the office of the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-food that the Bloc's allegations about supply management are false and ridiculous. Even the parliamentary secretary got involved, and he doesn't tend to issue many press releases. He even claimed that it was irresponsible to lump together such different issues as supply management and the monopoly of the Canadian Wheat Board. He went on to add that associating the two was blatant demagoguery.
I'm rather indifferent to these attacks, because I claim to defend the interest of Quebec producers. I've listened to them and I'm reporting what they had to say. I'm happy to see that you have the same concerns in Western Canada. In fact, you are in a better position that I am to know this file.