Mr. Chair, I listened with attentive ears to what the hon. member had to say.
It is fair to say that we have a right to pass judgment but judgment should be passed on fact. I heard the member say that there was next to no help from the government. If $1 billion is next to no help, then we should be prepared to ask our farmers to give it back and we will give it to the small industries, the small companies and businesses that are going bankrupt every day. There is no government help whatsoever for the farm machinery dealer who goes down as a result of this industry. People in my area are going bankrupt.
The Huron portion of my riding probably represents the largest in terms of dollar revenue return in agriculture than any riding in Canada east of Winnipeg. When the Bruce portion is taken in, it becomes considerably larger. I know what I am talking about. People in my riding are hurting. Their loans are being called in by the banks.
On no consultation, I can assure the member that there has been a lot of consultation. I can assure her that every member in the House has done some consultation. It is not only fair to pass judgment on this side of the House but perhaps on hon. members of the other opposition parties as well. I am sure they would agree with me.
The member said that we do not know what farmers want. I think we know what they want. If the results of going to the United States would be as positive as what we are being led to believe by some of the members tonight, then what are the results of the visits of the premier of Alberta to the United States? He has been there at least twice that I know of. It has been well publicized and is well known throughout this country that he has gone to make those kinds of requests to the United States and the politicians south of the border that would open the doors, but the doors have not yet been opened. There has been a lot of effort made by a lot of people, all sincere I am sure, but the result is exactly the same.
As my hon. colleague mentioned a few moments ago, there are those in elected office in the United States who want to see the borders remain closed. In the United States the organization R-CALF wants the borders kept closed. These are farmers. Convince our farmers that we have not done anything. The member had better talk to some of the farmers in the Huron--Bruce riding.