Mr. Chairman, I was pleased to hear the minister say that he would make agriculture negotiations a priority and talked about the distortion taking place in the markets. However I want to point out to him how very serious this is.
Over the past decade, the per capita support for Canadian agriculture under the agreement has declined by close to 40% below the average OECD support levels. In the U.S., our major competitor, per capita support has increased by a level of 14%. Our farmers just cannot survive those kinds of levels.
Therefore, two things can happen. Either, through tough negotiations, we can negotiate an agreement and develop allies to take on the Europeans and the Americans or the government will have to increase its support levels down the road so our farmers can stay in business.
Could the minister tell us what the strategy is in terms of developing allies to get to home base?