Mr. Speaker, one year ago today I became the member of Parliament for Perth--Middlesex.
One week later one mad cow was found on an Alberta farm. It has been a very trying year for the cattle industry and associated agribusiness.
The government has thrown money at agriculture without a plan to make sure the money actually gets to the farm gate. It forgot totally about agribusiness that was dependent on a healthy cattle industry. It had a cull cow program that did not even cull the cow.
I have watched for a year now as municipalities in my riding, which had previously requested federal funding for infrastructure, find themselves still waiting and wondering.
VIA Rail service in southwestern Ontario continues to be neglected while the gas prices go through the roof.
I have watched as the government was unable to improve health care for Canadians, was unwilling to address the culture of corruption and ignored rising tuition costs.
What a year.