Mr. Speaker, this government has failed farmers one more time.
It took the Liberals more than a year to acknowledge the farm income crisis. Their lack of policy direction in grain transportation has paralyzed reforms. Now their inability to negotiate with their employees has shut down western Canada's grain industry.
Grain farmers are facing one of the worst financial years in decades. Every day of this strike $6 million worth of farmers' grain is not reaching market.
The government was told for years that these workers are essential to Canada's grain industry. It has been told that final offer arbitration is the best way to resolve these disputes. It refuses to listen. Now the grain trains have been stopped one more time.
Farmers are innocent third parties of this labour dispute. They cannot understand why this government is not committed to a course of action to get the grain flowing. Many are wondering if the government even cares.
I acknowledge the wisdom of the speaker in authorizing the emergency debate on this issue tonight.