Mr. Speaker, I rise to present another petition from farmers and others in the Peterborough area who are concerned about the BSE crisis.
They point out that the Canadian beef cattle, dairy, goat and sheep industries are in a state of crisis due to BSE. The whole industry, in fact, is in a state of crisis.
The petitioners say that the aid package to the industry is inadequate as it does not deal with disastrously low prices and the imminent collapse of key sectors of the rural economy.
The citizens urge Parliament to open the American border to Canadian cattle now and, as soon as possible, develop fair, long term solutions and economic relief that reflects the importance of these industries to Canada, and in particular, in my case, to eastern Ontario.