Madam Speaker, I am sure the member from Manitoba who just spoke is familiar with the tremendous diversification in the prairies, and probably right across the country, that has been occurring for the last 20 years or more. The most recent I know of is in Alberta with the production of hay for export, more specifically timothy and alfalfa. There is a tremendous amount of tonnage going to places around the world, across the Pacific to Japan, Taiwan, the Middle East, the United States, Britain and North Africa.
Another one, of course, is canola, which the member would know more about. In the last 20 years or so canola has really bit into the Canadian acreage of what is sown in the spring. It is a major commodity for many producers in western Canada.
Peas and lentils are pulse crops. Tremendous strides have been made in developing these crops as well. Oats is another one. Since oats have been taken off the wheat board, they have been processed and shipped as pony oats right around the world, especially from Alberta.
Once the regulations were gone, beef just went through the ceiling. My home province of Alberta has over 50% of Canada's beef which is exported to the south, whether alive or in boxes it does not matter. There has been a tremendous growth in that particular sector.
Hog products are the same, especially once the marketing boards were gone. There are hog barns going all over the western provinces taking advantage of that particular sector.
We then have wheat. Now these sectors have increased phenomenally over the last number of years. They are not controlled and do not come under the control of the board, and the Canadian Wheat Board especially in terms of the grains. However, what has happened to wheat? This statement is from the wheat board. Its 10-year export forecast for wheat shows a decline in market share.
Let me just read out exactly where the wheat board stands or Canada stands in this particular situation on the increase in wheat exports. The export of wheat from Argentina will increase by 67% over the next 10 years. The export of wheat from Australia shows a 39% increase. The export of wheat from the European Union shows a 25% increase. Where is Canada? Canada is at 15%, lagging behind most of the major wheat exporting countries.
I am wondering how the member can reconcile the crops that are not under the Canadian Wheat Board flourishing while the crops, particularly the wheat, under the Canadian Wheat Board are lagging behind with a dismal record. I would like the member to respond to that.