Mr. Speaker, the fact is that I dealt quite extensively in my remarks with exactly the points that were raised by the opposition critic.
Our position on the trade war is very clear in terms of our absolute preparedness to go to the wall to protect the Canadian farmer. Indeed the agriculture minister has made that very clear. We are right and we are going to win and let there be no doubt about that.
I dealt with research and development extensively in my remarks. We believe that if you look at the development, the evolution of Canadian agriculture over the years, it is in fact because we have invested heavily in research and development, have developed new hybrid forms of grain, as an example, in the area from which the member comes that we have been so successful in world markets.
We have stated very clearly that the agri-food industry is an essential part of the growing Canadian economy. It is one that is worthy of support in world markets.
The minister is now on a tour of the Asian markets which are crucial to the future of Canadian agriculture.
We have also said that the department of agriculture, as indeed other government departments, will be cutting back on the heavy cost of administration that we have inherited in order to have more money to put into programs to support Canadian farmers.
That is part and parcel of the philosophy of the government in terms of agriculture, in terms of defence, in terms of industry. We believe that the huge government apparatus ought to be scaled back so that scarce resources can be put on the front line where the battles are being waged.
Yes, I did talk very enthusiastically about the minister of agriculture, about the work he is in the process of doing. It is an essential pillar of the economic philosophy of the government, that Canadian agriculture not simply survive but that it grow. That is because as the parliamentary secretary said, we see in Canadian agriculture not only problems as do the opposition, but tremendous, tremendous opportunity.