Mr. Speaker, on December 10 the Minister for Agriculture and Agri-Food announced the federal government's commitment to assist financially strapped farmers. The $900 million federal contribution would grow to $1.5 billion with full provincial participation in the program.
This short term relief package will help producers who have been caught by disastrous farm commodity prices and who are in the middle of an American-European subsidy war.
So far all provinces except Manitoba have joined the program. It is time for the Manitoba provincial government to act. The foot dragging must stop. Many Manitoba farmers are hurting. They want a commitment from their provincial government.
Manitoba farmers know they can count on the federal government to do its share. To be fully effective, however, the program requires full provincial participation. The Manitoba government should not take its farmers for granted.
I urge the province of Manitoba to join us today in helping our farmers.