Mr. Speaker, as a result of the decision by Rothmans, Benson & Hedges to stop purchasing tobacco grown in Quebec, suddenly more than $2 million worth of sales for flue-cured tobacco farmers has disappeared. Almost all of these farmers are located in the Lanaudière region.
Unlike the federal government, which has yet to make any announcements, Quebec has already set up a task force to come up with solutions.
If it turns out that no existing federal program allows for the conversion of tobacco farms, will the minister make a commitment to create such a program to switch production from flue-cured tobacco?