Mr. Speaker, I listened with interest to the Minister of Finance speak to the issue of agriculture. I appreciate his presence here because a lot of the decisions affecting agriculture have a dollar attached to them.
His speech was rather a motherhood one. I am sure that if you glance through Hansard you would see similar speeches made by agriculture ministers and finance ministers since time immemorial both at the federal and provincial levels.
There was really nothing of substance that I can take back to my rural riding and tell my constituents that I heard this from the government and it would give them hope or at least help them to prepare for the decisions they have to make to manage their farming enterprises.
A crucial question we would like to have clarification on from the Minister of Finance is-I am not talking in broad motherhood terms-when federal financial support for agriculture is justifiable.
Reform has very clearly stated the basis on which we feel support is justifiable. I can mention eight areas. What about countering international trade wars? What about transportation issues? What about natural hazards? What about regional disparities in agricultural sectors? What about variations or instability in the marketplace returns from agriculture produce? What about sustainability of rural Canada? What about research and development? What about environmental and conservation measures?
Specifically, does the government support funding for agriculture in these definite areas because I am not sure there are enough dollars to cover all of them. We need to know the priorities of the government. Because the minister went to great lengths to say that the federal agriculture minister was so wonderful I am sure they have had considerable consultation and have an action plan in place.
I would like to know what the priorities of the federal government are with regard to consolidating federal programs. The minister said it is an issue they may pursue. We want to know what programs are going to be consolidated in the agriculture sector. What can we expect from the government?
We also wonder if it would pledge to cut down administration but retain funding in real dollars for actual agricultural programs, except perhaps if savings could be accrued through reduction or de-escalation in the trade war.