Thank you.
Thank you, Minister, for being here. I do appreciate that you've taken the time to come today. I know that you're very busy.
Minister, farmers expect that you will be their voice at the cabinet table. We've heard that again and again. Many farmers and farm organizations have already had or attempted to have meetings with you and your office in the hopes that you will defend their interests at the cabinet table.
I think it is distressing when we hear from you that if people have concerns with regard to certain issues that affect the farm, they shouldn't talk to you, but to some other minister. Today I asked you a question in the House of Commons with regard to labour issues on the farm, specifically as it relates to the slaughter facilities across the country, and you didn't take the question. I understand that it may not have been your decision, but Minister Mihychuk did take the question and basically said not to worry about it because she made a speech in Winnipeg last week. Everybody who listened to that speech was assured that she wasn't clear about what the issues were, and she certainly didn't have solutions.
Minister, if you're going to be the defender of farm families and the defender of the industry at the cabinet table, what are you saying as it relates to TFWs and the necessity for labour in slaughter facilities across this country and on the farm? What are you saying at the cabinet table? The rumour is floating around that the fisheries minister has more pull with your seatmate than you do, and he got his exemption last week. You didn't get yours.
Just so that we can put this rumour to rest and assure farms and farm families that you have their backs, what have you said?