Mr. Chair, I would like to tell the hon. member and all hon. members that we do recognize that this has had a negative impact not only on farmers and farm families, but on communities and a number of businesses within these communities.
What we have done is we have moved forward to try to open up the borders. Will there be compensation for everyone who has been impacted by this? No, I do not think so.
What I have asked my officials to do is to look specifically at how this is impacting other sectors. I have asked them to see what it is that we could be doing to help out in these other sectors. Do we have a plan for a specific package for them? No, we do not.
As members know, this is something that is not only federal, but also provincial. It is something that we are trying to work together at both the federal and the provincial level to respond to some of the problems that this is creating.
What the industry has told me, first and foremost, is that we have to sell and market Canadian beef, and that is where we are putting our priorities. We also have to recognize that farmers are being impacted. We are trying to make sure that the dollars that should be going to them flow to them and get out to them as soon as possible.
In fact, as we speak now cheques being cut in a number of different areas. We are trying to get those dollars out to people to help them through this troubling time.