Mr. Speaker, Canadian jobs in rural communities are on the line. The current collapse of net farm incomes is jeopardizing Canada's forage dehydration industry, a little known but vital part of our agricultural communities, particularly in my riding of Prince Albert where the bulk of Saskatchewan's alfalfa dehydration production is processed.
Just consider these facts. First, Canada is the lowest cost producer in the world. Second, without unfair Economic Union subsidies, the Canadian dehydration industry would have weathered the economic downturn in Asia. Third, the dehydration industry is already burdened with rail transportation costs which have doubled while service declines. Finally, processing plants are largely farmer owned.
I urge the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food to keep this industry and these facts in mind before setting emergency compensation which may further penalize these farm-dependent producers.
The government has already caused enough damage by raising freight rates and dropping subsidies more rapidly than our European competitors.