I know the time is short. We have just a little over half an hour to go. I don't really know where to begin, because what I want to say I've said so many times in the last four, five, six days.
But do people really understand, when money is delivered, how much of that program money has been delivered? We had a program last year...and the government committed to spending more money in agriculture than any government had ever spent. Do we know if that money has been spent? We now have another $1 billion committed--$400 million and $600 million. Is that money going to be delivered?
Would it not be fair to ask government, any government, to give us an audit before a new budget is presented, saying this is the outstanding money that's still attributable to farmers for the 2003-04 crop year on their CAIS programs, or what's outstanding on the BSE, the recall of moneys now? I understand a lot of people are being asked to repay money they had taken earlier. This is not the way any other industry that I understand operates.
I'm a farmer also, in Ontario. We experience the same problem. For the life of me, I cannot understand why Canada will not take the position that it's important to feed its people. Until we come to an understanding that feeding our people...but we've had so much food. I said this to a certain farmer, and he said, “We have food security.” Only because we have it, he believes we will always have it. But it may not always be that way. If the ADMs of this world and the Cargills of this world, the big players, the Loblaws, the Sobeys.... They're controlling things. We don't have competition out there.
So basically we're now talking about treasuries and the Canadian treasury being smaller than the American. But we're operating from a budget that is balanced. The Americans are operating from a deficit side of the ledger. I think we'd better start getting serious about looking after those people who are feeding our nation. And if we do that, then I think we will find the programs. I can't get into all the programs, but I think we need that commitment. We have to believe in that. If we don't believe in that, we will never realize programs, because they're going to be ad hoc from here until the second coming. That's just the way it's going to be, and by that time there won't be farmers left.
Now, you can comment on that if you wish. I've said a lot of things, but I do believe in food security. I do believe that one government should deliver that program. There's one farm plan in the U.S., not 50 farm plans, and I think the sooner we come to that realization.... Let's start thinking outside of the box, because if it's not working, as Dr. Phil would say, then do something about it.