Mr. Speaker, I said in my remarks, as did the parliamentary secretary, that in the program set out by the minister of agriculture, we have been very specific as to the actions we intend to take.
Yes, there are areas where we have said we are going to consult because we think it is an essential part of the democratic process that we go out and that we talk. Surely the members of the Reform Party would agree that you go out and talk to Canadians, talk to those who are involved.
I cannot believe the Bloc Quebecois members do not share the same view that what government must do is consult with the stakeholder before coming down with the final program. We have nailed our colours to the mast. We have said what we are going to do.
The final remark I would make in response to the critic's remarks is with regard to what he said about GATT. I watched the evolution of that negotiation. When this government came into power we were dealt a very late hand. A previous government had not faced up to the tremendous demands that were out there; a previous government had not owned up to the Canadian people about what it had said, and a previous government had misplayed its hand very badly in Geneva. Nonetheless, having been dealt that hand, we were able to snatch tremendous victory from the jaws of defeat because of the negotiating skills of the government.
The net result of GATT which could have turned out so badly for Canadian agriculture is that in fact it has turned out to be a tremendous victory. It has turned out to be a tremendous victory because as a government we knew exactly what we wanted. Our negotiators went over to Europe, sat down at the the table and did not leave the table until they got it. I am sure that in the private moments of his home the opposition critic knows that.