Mr. Speaker, Canadian farmers deserve more respect from the Liberal government.
In my riding of Haldimand—Norfolk and in nearby Oxford and Elgin—Middlesex—London, hundreds of tobacco farmers are losing their livelihood as a result of direct actions of the government.
Under World Health Organization rules, when governments force industries out of business they must adequately compensate those industries.
Prior to the last election, the former agriculture minister promised the tobacco farming industry that farmers would be paid for being forced out of business. Not only was the offer paltry by international standards but repeated requests for details about the plan have gone unanswered. What is worse is that tobacco farmers have not seen one cent of these promised funds.
Once more the government has failed to honour its commitments to our farmers. Canada's farmers demand and deserve better.