Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the opportunity to speak on this important private members' initiative.
I too wish to congratulate the member for Lambton-Middlesex for her dedication to this issue. She and her office have worked diligently with some in the industry to achieve a goal. I am very happy to spend time in support of her work.
I was very pleased to hear the interventions of the other members this afternoon which indicated that there is a great need to make changes in the Competition Act to support the communities we represent and the economy of our country. At the same time, the debate indicates there is considerable support for the bill and the ideas that go along with strengthening the bill.
The member for Huron-Bruce gave us a good indication about what someone from within the industry thinks of the need for the bill. I was grateful for his intervention because it strengthened my confidence in the overall outlook on the bill.
For the benefit of those who are hearing about this for the first time, Bill C-221 is an act to amend the Competition Act, which creates an offence for manufacturers and distributors of motor vehicles and farm equipment to engage in certain marketing practices with their dealers. In virtually all cases, franchise agreements provide that a dealer shall not carry any other line or "dual" without the written permission of the manufacturer. In practice we know that permission is rarely forthcoming.
I come from a farming area in northern Saskatchewan where the communities are very small. The people who farm in those communities have great distances to travel for their support. In the past, farm dealers have driven throughout our area as they do in other parts of Canada. Over the years, the economics of rural Canada with a sparse population with decreasing incomes from the farm have led to a lot of changes in the way in which the agriculture industry is serviced. Where we once had many dealers, we now have a handful.
It makes it very difficult because there are many different product lines and there is a lot of loyalty to the original product lines on the farms scattered throughout northwest Saskatchewan and elsewhere. Fewer dealers and a great number of product lines results in many farmers finding it difficult to obtain the parts and service for the equipment they originally bought.
This private members' initiative gives the opportunity to some of the dealers currently carrying single product lines to recognize, understand and support the marketplace within their area. Many different product lines are not able to be serviced under the current arrangements. It would be marvellous if the local single product line dealer in one community could provide parts and service for many of the product lines that exist within that dealer's community. It would be of great benefit to the whole region.
At the same time, there might be an opportunity for new dealerships to open their doors, servicing not just one product line but several product lines. They could service the entire community. Rural Saskatchewan, particularly the remote rural part where several members of this House come from, is currently so underserviced by the equipment dealers.
I am very proud of the equipment dealers that currently function within northwest Saskatchewan and Saskatchewan in general. They have had a very difficult time throughout the past 10 years with the decline in farm prices. They have stuck with their communities and they work hard in them. Quite often they and their staff volunteer their time in the communities for everything from coaching minor hockey and baseball through to calling some of the church bingos that still exist throughout the riding. I am very grateful that those people are able to contribute to the communities in the way they do. This legislation offers greater opportunities for those people to remain in our communities and for others like them to find themselves there as well.
I do not want to go on at great length because there are others who wish to speak to this bill. The restrictions that have been put in place have certainly increased costs and reduced availability within the marketplace. I hope that this bill has the support of the members of the House.
The member for Lambton-Middlesex has certainly done her homework with regard to this bill. She has talked to everyone in the industry from the Ontario Farm Implements Dealers Association through to dealers across Canada. I know they have contacted her because some of them from Saskatchewan have contacted me asking to whom they can direct some of their information, concerns and support.
I am also aware that the Minister of Industry has tried to address this issue through the competitions bureau and that earlier this year the competitions bureau was to hold hearings and should have reported on this. I would have been happier to be standing here today supporting a government bill that I knew was going through all three readings in this House and that I could vote in favour of to ensure that with government support the legislation would go through and this would have full government support.
In the absence of government support and in the absence of a bill presented by the Minister of Industry, I am very happy to be able to stand today and support the private member's initiative by the member for Lambton-Middlesex. As I said earlier, I commend the bill to the House. I would hope that members of the House will find it in their power to put some pressure on the government to see that this type of legislation finds its way into reality.
The member's diligence, dedication and hard work in this regard should have its rewards. I only hope that they are forthcoming.