Mr. Speaker, this debate is on Motion No. 314 by the hon. member for Moose Jaw-Lake Centre. It gives the government an opportunity to point out that it is working with the provinces and industry to deliver effective, cost efficient programming for the benefit of the primary agriculture and agri-food industry and the consumer.
The fundamental proposal in the motion has considerable merit. Who could not agree with the notion of reducing the duplication of programs and services? I cannot. It does not make sense for two levels of government to do the same thing. It does not make sense to spend $1 more than what is necessary.
If the government were to adopt the hon. member's motion to immediately pursue negotiations with the provinces and the agri-food industry to eliminate overlap and duplication, we would be reinventing the wheel.
We do not want a new set of constitutional negotiations. I remember what happened during the last set. We want agreements with the provinces to make a real difference in the lives of the people actively farming in Canada today.
I can think of no better example than agriculture, a shared responsibility between provincial and federal levels of government, to illustrate the enormous effort made by the federal government, provinces, the industry and municipal governments to work together to resolve issues and deliver effective programming and reduce spending.
There are many examples such as safety nets, where both levels of government and industry have come up with a national whole farm program that will provide $1 billion of income support for producers this year; $600 million from the federal government and the rest from provincial governments.
The federal government has been working with the provinces, with industry and even with municipal governments to put in place a national food inspection system that will harmonize standards across the country, get rid of duplication of effort where it does exist and at the same time maintain Canada's high standards of food safety and quality which are respected worldwide.
In financial services the Farm Credit Corporation and interested provinces are discussing ways to reduce duplication of government services. The FCC has acquired the New Brunswick agricultural development board portfolio. It has been working with the Alberta Financial Services Corporation since last June to combine the two lending services into a single delivery point.
In research, a valuable tool for Canadian agriculture and agri-food, the federal government is working closely with the private sector and universities to continue a long tradition of scientific excellence. The Canadian agriculture food research council, which has representatives from provincial governments, universities and industry, helps ensure there is a co-ordinated approach and that we avoid duplication.
The list is almost endless and I will not tire the House with much more, just a few more points: trade and market development, environmental initiatives, a new range of adaptation measures following the February 27 budget to support industry as it adjusts to a market driven economy.
There is no area where federal and provincial governments do not collaborate effectively. After all, what have we been doing in agriculture since 1867? That is what we will continue to do in the integrated world of agriculture and agri-food where co-operation among all the players is more important than it ever was in the past.
For these reasons I urge members to vote against the motion.