Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food was informed when we returned to the House after the summer break that farmers were going broke.
Since that time—and it has taken weeks of pressure—he finally believes what we already knew. The minister now agrees that farmers need assistance, but he still does not understand.
He wants the aid he gives the farmers to be matched by the provinces. That does not make sense in Saskatchewan.
Does he not realize that Saskatchewan has the highest proportion of farmers to its population? Does he not realize that Saskatchewan is more dependent on the agri-food industry than any other province?
If farmers are not making money in Saskatchewan, Saskatchewan is not making money.
This government did not ask Newfoundland to cough up money when its cod stocks were depleted and it should not be asking Saskatchewan to cough up the money now.