Mr. Speaker, media reports indicate that the government caucus and the minister of agriculture finally accept the severity of the situation affecting many Canadian farmers facing the worst crisis since the dirty thirties. But the same report suggests all cabinet ministers may not yet be on side.
My question therefore is for the Minister of Finance. Does the minister accept the tragic reality facing tens of thousands of Canadian farm families and, if so, will he commit today to both a short term disaster relief program and longer term protection for our beleaguered farm families?