Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to have the opportunity to respond to that question because it indicates a certain misunderstanding of the nature of agriculture in this country.
In western Canada the agricultural sector is dominated by export industries such as grain and beef. Those export industries have to compete of course in the marketplaces of the world. The expenditure levels referred to in the question were levels that were triggered by international trading distortions.
For example, the introduction by the United States of its export enhancement program caused the price of grain in the world to collapse and the obvious necessity for a government reaction within Canada. When those trade distortions occurred internationally, the level of government expenditure in Canada with respect to the grains industry went up accordingly to try to offset those international implications.
In eastern Canada, agriculture is somewhat more diversified. It tends to be dominated by domestic industries that have the advantage of a Canadian supply management system. As a result of that Canadian supply management system, those agricultural sectors in eastern Canada tend to be sheltered against international circumstances. They do not have to face the difficulty which has been faced in western Canada of those distortions in international trade. It is a bit of a mug's game to compare the numbers because two systems which are not directly comparable are being compared and the numbers at the bottom line get to be a bit misleading.
The hon. gentleman may want to draw comparisons of the values provided by the Government of Canada to western Canadian agriculture compared with the values provided to agriculture in eastern Canada and make that east-west comparison. To do that he has to take into account the regulatory benefit provided to central Canadian and eastern Canadian agriculture by means of our supply management system which has in fact been worth billions to the agricultural sector in eastern Canada.