Mr. Speaker, world renowned Okanagan valley red Delicious apples are a major crop in my riding of Okanagan-Similkameen-Merritt.
This industry is also a major employer in the area. Recently apple growers have been threatened by the dumping of apples into Canada at prices below the American growers' cost of production. This not only affects Okanagan growers but apple producers across Canada.
Unless fair trade provisions under the current Canada-U.S. Free Trade Agreement are enforced, our apple producers may soon be forced out of business.
On behalf of the growers in my riding, I call on this government to immediately protect Canadian apple producers before severe damage is done to this important industry.