Mr. Chair, I appreciate having the opportunity to be part of this tonight. There are a lot of problems out there in rural areas. We know about that. There are some sheep producers at home that are in desperate straits. They have been in worse shape than the beef industry over the last eight months because they have not received any help at all.
Farmers actually are in tough shape. Our wheat prices have dropped right off to nothing. People are trying to get by on $1.85 or $1.95 wheat that is being marketed very inefficiently and poorly by the Canadian Wheat Board.
I want to ask the member a question. It seems consistent. The government does not have an understanding of rural issues and the problems that exist there. I am wondering if he can give us a few of the reasons why he thinks the government finds it so hard to deal with rural issues and to address those problems.