Madam Speaker, I would like to thank the hon. member for his comments. I know he is as concerned about the future of agriculture in Quebec as I am about the future of agriculture in all of Canada.
The hon. member made comments about the current tariff of 351 per cent on some products put in place on supply managed products. He also referred to the 50 per cent market for fluid milk Quebec farmers now enjoy. I have been having trouble with the logic of the Bloc's argument about how, when Quebec separates, it will continue to have 50 per cent of the Canadian fluid milk market at 351 per cent tariff. It does not seem to add up to me.
What steps is his government taking to help supply managed farmers in Quebec make the adjustment for the time when we have complete free trade in agriculture? That time is coming very quickly. In the beef industry we have free trade with the United States now. We actually have gone to some special import permits beyond the minimum access so it is happening quicker in the beef industry than even was scheduled under GATT.
The United States has served notice that it wants to discuss supply managed industries in Canada. Therefore there will be increased pressure to move to complete free trade.
It seems to me the Liberal government would have to be taking some concrete steps to help those farmers make that adjustment. If we are saying it cannot be done, if we will to maintain these 351 per cent tariffs, after a six year reduction in GATT it seems to me that tariff will still be 300 per cent, which is not realistic.
I ask the hon. member what he is considering doing to help these supply managed farmers make the adjustment necessary to continue to have a viable industry after free trade is accomplished.