Madam Speaker, I am pleased to have this opportunity to rise tonight and put forward some views and ideas regarding the farm aid package announced last year by the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food.
With my riding of Lambton—Kent—Middlesex and the southwestern Ontario region producing a large percentage of agri-food products, the success of agriculture is of prime importance. If we lose our farm families and our means of production, we lose our sovereignty as a nation.
Having met with the federations of agriculture in my riding, the pork producers, dairy, corn, soybean, wheat and vegetable growers to name just a few, all have offered ideas on possible improvements to AIDA within the whole array of federal-provincial safety nets and national agricultural policies. All of the producer groups in my riding believe that changes could be made to improve safety nets and help producers of all agricultural commodities in times of financial hardship.
It has been suggested by the Middlesex county pork producers for one that for NISA, the matchable deposit percentage of eligible net sales should be raised from 3% to 6%, allowing producers to build a cushion to fall back on when eligible net sales drop.
In addition, they feel that producer accounts should be allowed to go into a negative balance when eligible net sales drop below 75% of the previous three year average, to a maximum of 10% of the previous three year average of eligible net sales in any given year, with a total allowable negative balance of 25% in all years combined.
To offset prolonged financial problems, combined with the deposit caps now in place, the NISA program would help producers most in need of financial assistance, namely young producers just getting started in farming and producers of commodities prone to cyclical price swings beyond their control.
Corn producers have constructive suggestions too. The market revenue program now extended for two more years needs to be confirmed for a longer period. They are calling for 90% coverage and elimination of premium deductions in market revenue. This would recognize the continuous pressure put on cash crop producers by the U.S. farm programs.
We must cause positive changes to the AIDA program. It definitely has some kinks in it and collectively we must make it work to establish a more effective farm aid approach.
With the suggestions of producer groups, such as those in my riding of Lambton—Kent—Middlesex, with the provinces and the federal officials, and through the national safety net advisory committee of the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, I am hopeful that new proposals will be assessed on their own merits.
We must stand for our farmers. We must support our farmers and rural Canada, the backbone of our economy. I look forward to working with the minister and local producers in my riding to develop better methods to deliver assistance more quickly and efficiently to the farmers most in need.