Mr. Speaker, in Saskatchewan farmers and ranchers looked for moisture all winter. No moisture came and they are now faced with dry dugouts, dry wells, dust storms, disappearing pastures, no feed for livestock and crops not being planted.
Cities, towns and villages are experiencing problems due to the serious financial situation in agricultural industries. Workers are being laid off and businesses are closing. We need a government that cares about this national industry. Instead we have a government with no vision and no plan. All we have is an interim report from the Prime Minister's task force on farming.
Interim reports do not put food on the tables. Interim reports do not pay the bills. Interim reports do not keep families on the farm or businesses open.
Improved safety net programs are desperately needed . The government cannot continue to ignore the situation faced by the agricultural industry. We need decisive action and we need it now.