Mr. Speaker, the agriculture minister is meeting with his provincial counterparts here in Ottawa this afternoon. Given the minister's ineffective record on certain issues, I have to wonder what, if any, new information he will provide about BSE relief efforts or provincial unease about the agricultural policy framework.
The Saskatchewan government has valid concerns about the minister's attempts to lump extraordinary circumstances, such as the beef crisis, in with the less severe situations that the APF was designed to address.
Saskatchewan has not signed on to the agricultural policy framework, yet with the aid in some cases tied to the APF our producers are left in limbo.
The uncertainty is making a terrible situation worse. I plead with the minister to make clear his intentions so that everyone can get back to the business of beef.