Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the question from my colleague.
On article XI, 20 per cent of my constituents are agricultural people in rural settings. As the hon. member well knows, one of the first issues the government dealt with was article XI. My constituents and I submit that most Canadian farmers understand, as the member said, we could not do much about it. Canada stood alone and voted to maintain article XI. I do not know what else the government could have done than to stand alone, virtually totally alone in the world on something that important.
For my colleague's information, my riding of London-Middlesex in southwestern Ontario is one of the most active dairy farming parts of Canada. Before the budget the concern brought to me was that the government would somehow give into pressure and suddenly totally end dairy subsidies.
Frankly as late as last week some leading dairy farmers in my riding advised me that the 15 per cent cut followed by am additional 15 per cent cut was the kind of gradual, common sense reduction that would allow them to adjust. They were relieved that the government had the common sense not to suddenly end the subsidy because there were those calling for it.