Mr. Speaker, contrary to what Ottawa claims, our agricultural policies are not in disarray because of international commitments. The federal government is to blame.
The Liberal government reduced farm subsidies to meet GATT requirements, when we had already met our commitments. The same government is giving in to demands from the Americans with respect to foreign trade.
We must stimulate the agricultural sector and do so through carefully considered action. Changes in the Crow rate should reflect equal treatment of eastern and western producers. The Liberal government should declare a one-year moratorium on sales of the BST hormone, and any concessions made on the international scene should be met with benefits for Canadian producers. That is how a responsible government should prepare for agriculture 2000.