Mr. Speaker, for every dollar that Canadians spend on agriculture Americans spend $2.06, Europeans spend $2.14 and the Japanese $3.47. The United States subsidizes farmers four times more than we do and the Europeans six times more.
A good result of this is that all Canadians spend less than 10% of their incomes on food. All other developed nations spend much more. However, a bad result is that our farmers' share of food costs is very small.
While we can be proud that we eat the healthiest food in the world at the least cost, we must think of the long term. Our wonderfully efficient farming system will be maintained only if farmers and their families receive a fair income for their efforts and ingenuity.
If today's food is too cheap we will pay the cost tomorrow. Let us be sure that our farmers receive their fair share.