The department of agriculture. There were others: industry, fisheries and oceans and natural resources. Their knives knew no boundaries. They were prepared to slash and burn and put up figures regardless of sustainability or of the impact it would have on those ministries in regions of the country. We can imagine what would happen in fisheries and oceans.
No wonder they do not have a seat in eastern Canada. They should go into eastern Canada and tell them that they want to cut money out of those ministries that support Canadians working in those industries. They would cut $640 million by downsizing agriculture, industry, fisheries and oceans and natural resources. They did not say the environment.
The other day the debate in the House was about how all environmental issues should be turned over to provincial interests. Someone even suggested that the municipalities could do a better job, that the federal government had no position to play as custodians of the national environment, and that it should abdicate its responsibility.
It would not surprise me in the least if the day arrives in the not too distant future when members of the Reform caucus will call for the Minister of the Environment to invoke tough federal regulations to protect a particular interest that they may have that day or that they have read about in the Globe and Mail or the National Post that morning, which seem to be the fundamental research documents used by the Reform Party.
In addition, a further $690 million would be cut from other regional and sector specific funding through the department of agriculture. They talk about environment, industry and natural resources. It is truly astounding.
The motion calls for emergency measures including tax relief and yet their own documents do not support it. One thing I find most interesting is how this seems to be a johnny-come-lately for Reformers. Where have they been in question period? Where has the critic for agriculture been? Where has the leader of the Reform Party been to stand and ask amazingly tough questions of the government and hold its feet to the fire?
They do not ask questions during question period. Rather they sit in the back room and concoct some kind of emotion to throw on the floor and try to pretend they are the saviours of Canadian farmers and Canadian businesses, that they are the only ones who can foster tax relief. It is hypocrisy in its purest form, and the Canadian people know it full well.