Mr. Speaker, Doug Steinwand farms in my constituency. This fall he took a load of grain to the elevator. His gross income for that load of grain was just under $5,000. His take home pay was just under $3,000. Over $2,000 was deducted for transportation, handling and the GST. Those deductions amount to 42% of the gross value of the grain marketed by this hardworking husband and father who is trying to make a living for his family.
How can farmers survive under these conditions? Their input costs are enormous. The price they get for their grain is depressed because of international subsidies. They battle the weather to plant and harvest their crops and when they get their grain to market, 42% of its depressed value is ripped off the top for handling and transportation.
If something is not done about these conditions, Canada is going to lose its farmers and our food producing capacity.
I say to Mr. Steinwand, to his family and thousands of farmers like him, the government has failed you, it has failed your families and it has failed the country.