Mr. Speaker, this budget is a huge disappointment for farmers.
Last year the Prime Minister promised that he would move to cost of production. All we see in this budget is the $1 billion that was announced several times. There are no details and no negotiations established with the provinces. It could have been done in a way under the Farm Income Protection Act that it could have been rolled out immediately but he locked it into the budget. It really is just a promise. There is no real money there. The only real money in this announcement is under the capital cost allowance, capital gains tax exemption, in order for farmers to get out of the business.
Why did the minister not live up to the Prime Minister's commitment of a year ago of achieving cost of production?