I want to reassure Mr. Steckle that the recommendations in the report will be considered in the final analysis.
The other thing is, as I listen to your comments, Mr. Steckle, you say the Prime Minister should have said this, he should have said that, he should have had this reference. That really is not what the farmer wants to hear. What the farmer wants to hear is whether we are moving ahead with this issue. We've spent an hour here, and we're not making any progress.
Alex, with all due respect, you say “it appears”. Well, damn it, don't base your decision on whether it appears or not. I might think that you think a certain thing, but maybe that's not what you think. Never mind appearances. What are the facts?
The facts are we're taking action for farmers. You've been promoting that since I met you. Every one of us has been promoting that, and now all of a sudden we take action, and you have to find something wrong.
I realize your job as opposition is to criticize, but come on. You don't like hearing about splitting hairs, but we are splitting hairs. Come on. When he says “He should have said this in the announcement” and “It appears...”--come on--we're splitting hairs. Let's do what's right for the farmers.
You're not going to like to hear this, but the minister says put farmers first. Let's cool things down here, and let's put farmers first right here. Let's use the minister's own words, and let's put the farmers first. If we put the farmers first, we'll go ahead with this announcement and we'll get this done.