I was attending a funeral. I'm not sure if the member is trying to make some sort of sarcastic point here or not, but I guess that's what we have to deal with.
One of the programs the Liberals tried to cancel that we were able to get restored under them, because they finally caved in to the pressure of farmers asking for it to be maintained, was the Farm Improvement and Market Cooperatives Loans Act. It's known as FIMCLA. That's another program that's being maintained. It's not a big program, but an important one, particularly in areas where people are trying to build cooperatives and put them together.
We heard yesterday in Washington—I think Mr. Easter will acknowledge I was there—that cooperatives are important down there, particularly to the renewable fuels folks. We sat down at the Renewable Fuels Association, and they talked about the importance that cooperatives have played throughout the United States in the development of their ethanol industry over the last 15 to 20 years.
It was an exciting conversation to have with a person who's very optimistic about the future. Hopefully we can develop some of that same industry in this country and have some of the same successes that they've had in the United States.
Our friends from Quebec are taken care of as well. We know the golden nematode issue affected an area in Quebec. That was a devastating problem, and this government committed $5.5 million to assist those producers. It included $2 million in federal support through a new golden nematode disaster program and the Plant Protection Act, and another $3.4 million in federal payments through CAIS and renewal programs.
Those folks had a tough situation. After negotiations and sitting down to hear about their situation, this government was willing to commit money to their program.