Mr. Speaker, many Canadian farmers are now facing a serious financial crisis. Not only the Prairie grain producers but also the pork producers, particularly those in my riding, are being hit particularly hard. What is happening now reminds me of the farm crisis in Ontario in the early 1980s.
I can understand the anguish farmers experience because of these difficulties. A farm crisis puts Canadian family farms in jeopardy, and has a considerable negative impact on the entire agri-food industry.
This crisis prompts us to examine not only long term solutions to the problems facing farmers, but also, and more important, to work with the agricultural community toward a short term solution to deal with this crisis.
I reiterate that my Liberal colleagues and I support an appropriate and speedy response to farmers' needs.