Madam Speaker, I listened with interest to the member's comments. He mentioned the disaster relief program for farmers across the country. I am from Okanagan—Coquihalla and we have an orchard industry that brings to the Okanagan Valley some $700 million a year which we are very proud of. I think now and then all Canadians enjoy B.C. apples. That has been a tradition across the country. We are well known for our high quality products.
In the last two years our orchardists have been ravished with disastrous weather, crop failures and a number of situations. The member with a lot of pride defended the program in this budget that has been set up for the agricultural industry.
I would like to ask the member if all people in the agricultural industry are so happy about the process that has been set up why then did tree fruit growers in the Okanagan Valley announce yesterday that they plan to cut down their apple trees in the Okanagan Valley, destroying a complete industry, on March 15? Could the member please give the orchardists in the Okanagan Valley some encouragement that this process and relief program will come sooner than sometime in July or August and that relief will be immediate for these people who are suffering a great deal.