Madam Speaker, it is my pleasure to answer the member's question. I want to refer to a response by the member's former colleague and that is the one-sided picture always presented by the Bloc on these matters.
Some of the largest dairy producers in the province are in my riding of Provencher. The riding of Provencher produces almost 50 per cent of the milk in Manitoba. Of course I too was concerned about any possible decreases in subsidies to dairy farmers. I remind the member again that it was a Liberal government in the early 1970s which brought in that support system and continues to defend it also for Quebec farmers.
In specific response to his question about the subsidy, he must know, ought to know and should be telling his constituents and his dairy farmers that they have been allowed to pass those costs on, through the Canadian Dairy Association, to the consumers. Over a three or four year period, the reductions in those subsidies will be recovered by the dairy producers.
It is my pleasure here today to give the hon. member that information so he can share it with his dairy farmers in Quebec if he does not already know that.