I'll continue: “That the federal government act to differentiate 'made-in-Canada' food products from those products merely processed in Canada.” Once again, he was for it, he tried stealing it, and now he's against it again.
Then, “That the federal government ensure that young farmers have access to the Farm Improvement and Marketing Cooperative Loans Act (FIMCLA).” Our minister did it, but Mr. Easter tried filibustering it in committee because he didn't like who was chairing the committee at the time.
Next, “That governments allow producers to shelter a portion of their earnings in good years, and withdraw them in lean years.” That's AgriInvest. Our minister has done that. Mr. Easter was for it before he was against it.
Then, “That governments eliminate succession and estate taxes...on primary producers.” We have moved on this.
Next, “That governments invest in improving and maintaining highways and railways, increasing maritime container capacity; preserving and expanding research facilities.” More than ever our government is doing this. Mr. Easter was for this, while his government did nothing on it. Now he's against it while our government actually accomplishes something.
Then, “That governments invest in slaughterhouse infrastructure to increase slaughter capacity.” I find this really very interesting because once again he was for it before he was against it.
Next, “That governments invest in infrastructure to produce renewable fuels from agricultural crops, particularly bio-diesel and ethanol.” For it before he was against it.
Next, “That governments assure that child-care is extended to parents who choose to stay on the farm while raising their young children.” That sounds an awful lot like what our government did in the beginning of our tenure.
Then, “That governments enhance internship programs to provide opportunities for young people seeking careers in rural professions.” I can tell you, as a member from rural Canada, our government has accomplished somewhat on this.
Then, “That governments provide financial support to students returning to work in farming communities...who cannot repay their student loans immediately.” An example is the expanding scholarships and increasing the millennium scholarships, which our government has done.
Next, “That governments make it easier for primary producers to hire seasonal workers.” This program was pretty much non-existent before we got into power. Now that we're doing something on it, Mr. Easter is against it.
Next, “That governments consider implementing an Alternate Land Use Services....” Our minister is looking at this.
Mr. Chair, I find it quite disturbing the total hypocrisy that Mr. Easter brings to this. You know, this was a man who was a respected minister in a former government who pays little to no attention to agriculture issues anymore. He's more concerned about going under most of the doors in this place and talking about scandals than he is about actually addressing the problems that farmers have in a constructive manner.
He talks about--and this is something that I really find disturbing--the $550 million that big industry, the slaughter industry, stole. They didn't steal it. The Liberal government handed it to them because they put no caps on anything they did. They're the ones who neglected our farmers; they're the ones who neglected our cow-calf producers; they're the ones who neglected our family farms for over a decade. He was right there with his hand on the wheel, and then he turns around and says, “Well, I really didn't like what we were doing, I just voted for it all the time.”
Mr. Chairman, once again, I was really disturbed to see a couple of weeks ago.... When the Canadian Cattlemen's Association and others came to us asking for $25 million, and I agree we need to reduce the regulatory burden.... But Mr. Easter would once again like to cut a $10 million cheque to Cargill. He really does not learn anything from the lessons. Maybe that's why the Liberal Party, the official opposition, is in the tank in the polls, and maybe Mr. Valeriote would be a good replacement for him at the ag committee.
Now to the motion. I do believe that Mr. Atamanenko is sincere in wanting to help farmers. We have had good discussions on this. I do disagree with the way he wants to go about it. I disagree with the NDP's position on free trade and international trade agreements that we're trying to participate in, such as Colombia. These are things that will help our producers. As general as this motion is, as the parliamentary secretary has said, it really does lead to a lot of misdirection and very little guidance, because a province like Alberta is bound to be discriminated against under such a motion. The Province of Alberta has worked very hard with the federal government, no matter what stripe, trying to work within the programs. It is going to be punished under this. It's not going to receive the same amount of funding as provinces such as Ontario, Quebec, and other provinces. I would suggest that P.E.I. would be in the same situation, but Mr. Easter has once again shown that he's not that concerned about that.
Thank you, Mr. Chair.