Mr. Speaker, as the member of Parliament for Prince George--Peace River for over 11 years, I have experienced many frustrating days but none more so than today.
I find it impossible to begin to express the frustration, disappointment and anguish of the livestock producers in my riding. That the U.S. border remains closed to live cattle is a national tragedy and irrefutable evidence of the abject failure of the Liberal government.
Further evidence is what is not in the Liberal budget.
There is no mention of the crisis devastating our agricultural industry. There is no mention of assistance to address the mountain pine beetle epidemic ravaging B.C's forests. There is no mention of when Mackenzie residents can expect an end to the discriminatory tax policy created by the removal of their northern residents tax deduction.
I call upon the government to do what is right, to do what is fair and to act now on these priorities rather than continuing its present policy of study, delay and dithering.