Mr. Speaker, the sheep industry in Canada and Quebec was stunned to find out in the last budget about the closure of the experimental farm in La Pocatière, which was established in 1910. Against all expectations, the federal government is slowing down the growth of this booming sector.
These cuts are totally inconsistent with the red book commitments on research and development and defeat the efforts made by research establishments in the last few years.
The federal government must review its R&D financing policy and end blind cuts which unfairly penalize growing agricultural sectors.
We hope that common sense will prevail and that the Minister of Agriculture will reconsider his decision as soon as possible, as requested by the committee for the survival of the experimental farm in La Pocatière.