Mr. Speaker, tonight the House of Commons will debate the serious implications for the agriculture industry of this year's national drought. The events of September 11 have overshadowed debate in the House. However there are other serious matters that must be addressed by parliament.
It is appropriate that the impact of the drought is one of the first of these issues brought to the floor of the House by the Canadian Alliance. It is clear to all rural MPs across the country that their constituents are facing increasingly difficult financial times. These difficulties are being made worse by severe drought conditions.
I call on all members of parliament to join with the Canadian Alliance in forcing the government to consider the needs of producers in rural communities. The Canadian Alliance promised that agriculture would be one of the first issues we pushed on to the agenda of the House of Commons. We are keeping our promise. We are effectively challenging the cabinet's indifference to rural Canada.