Mr. Speaker, first let me thank the member opposite for quoting the hon. member for Prince Edward-Hastings. In fact, his quote from Farm and Country is of a statement by the member for Prince Edward-Hastings. However, he forgot half the sentence. The hon. member for Prince Edward-Hastings did say: ``It is true, 80 cents a hectolitre multiplied by 70 hectolitres comes out to $56 a cow''. This is true. That is supposing that all of the milk of the producer in question is industrial milk. As the average is usually 50-50, the figures of the hon. member opposite are twice as high as they should be.
I would like in addition, if I may, to talk about the matter of the Coopérative Avicole de St-Isidore. We spoke of the co-operative and of what the Coopérative Avicole de St-Isidore had said. I quote from a letter dated March 27, 1995 to Mr. Don Boudria, written on the Coopérative Avicole de St-Isidore letterhead. I will read the rest and will be pleased to table this in the House: "Due to the rail strike, we no longer benefit from the price guaranteed by the railways. We are forced to buy at market prices, which are 20 per cent higher, thus increasing our production costs. I hope you will be able to remedy the situation. Yours truly, Alain Léger."
This is dated March 27, 1995, that is, last Monday. I therefore say to the hon. member opposite that I have proof in hand that the price of soya was up 20 per cent. If he feels he has evidence to the contrary, he should table it. But of course he has none.
No one celebrates when subsidies are upset, and one sector or another in our society loses revenues. Granted, no one is celebrating, but the cuts were made fairly and equitably by an honest government wishing to do the best possible for Canadians, whether they live in Quebec or elsewhere.
The only thing I find lacking in the speeches by the hon. members opposite is the fact that they did not check with head office. I realize they are just a branch in Ottawa, but cuts were made in Quebec to subsidies and services to the agricultural sector, particularly in research. The hon. members opposite have unfortunately forgotten this.