Mr. Speaker, today, February 7, is Food Freedom Day. It is a day of celebration for those who eat at least once a day but it is not as happy for those who produce our food.
Today Canadians have earned enough money to pay for their entire year's food supply. It takes just 37 days out of the whole year for an average Canadian to pay for his or her groceries. In 1999 Canadians spent 10% of their personal disposable income on food. This compares to 13% in France, 15% in Germany and 33% in Mexico.
Farmers are earning just a fraction of the average Canadian food dollar. While Food Freedom Day is February 7, January 9 is the day on which we have paid for the farmers' amount. That is right. It is January 9. It takes only nine days to pay the farmers for a year's worth of food. Nine cents of a $1.50 loaf of bread is returned to the farmer. Sixteen cents goes to the dairy farmer for a $1.50 glass of milk. A waiter or waitress in a restaurant earns more in tips for serving the food than the farmer who produces it in the first place.
We need to recognize our primary producers so that Food Freedom Day can be a day that everyone can celebrate including our farmers.