Mr. Speaker, Quebec's Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food announced that special assistance would be provided to Quebec sheep producers who are experiencing serious financial problems.
Those who were abandoned by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and who lost 11,000 sheep between January 1, 1997 and October 27, 1998, will be eligible for a three-year interest-free loan of up to $100,000 per business.
Quebec has taken action. It is now up to the federal Minister of Agriculture to do his share after doing a major injustice by creating two classes of producers in Quebec, one of which is the victim of the minister's lack of compassion.
The Bloc Quebecois has confidence in the Bouchard government and it salutes the courageous measure taken by a credible and responsible government which Quebeckers will be proud to re-elect on November 30.