Mr. Speaker, I rise on behalf of the people of Okanagan—Coquihalla to express my concern over this government's gross neglect of the British Columbia fruit growers.
About 5,000 jobs in the Okanagan Valley are directly linked to the $700 million orchard industry. After two years of weather related disasters, cash-strapped growers were looking to the government's Agricultural Income Disaster Assistance program for immediate relief.
After being told they would have to wait until the summer, the growers have said enough is enough.
On March 15 the sound of chainsaws will ring through the Okanagan Valley. Growers, who have nothing to lose, will cut down their apple trees.
Financial relief is needed now, not in the summer, and long term solutions like reduced taxation must be a priority. This is just another example of Canadians paying more in taxes and getting less in services. Will the Liberal government stop the March 15 Okanagan chainsaw massacre?