Mr. Speaker, according to StatsCan farm cash receipts in western Canada are down drastically in 1998. In 1997 net farm income fell 55% nationally.
Farmers have started to draw money from their net income stabilization account. For the six months of 1998 NISA withdrawals increased by nearly 70%. Most farmers will not be able to face the current market crisis.
Of greater concern is that while governments of our major competitors, the EU and the U.S., declare that they will help their farmers go through this crisis our government is not reacting to our problems.
Since 1993 federal and provincial government support has dropped 60%. Farmers want a long term commitment from the government and the government must react now.