Mr. Speaker, I rise in the House to talk about the federal government's lack of action when it comes to the drought. In my riding, as a result of the historic drought this summer, hundreds of animals were sent to slaughter, the cornfields were transformed into dust fields and the hopes of young farmers turned into despair. The burden is heavy on farmers in the Pontiac, since they have to buy food for the coming winter and additional seed for the spring.
I stand here in solidarity with the farmers of the Pontiac.
I would like to underline the importance of the farming industry to the economy and to daily lives. I ask the government, how come farmers need to get into massive debt to ensure their livelihood? How come they have to sell part of their assets to make a living? Why is it that they cannot have access to new land at reasonable costs and interest rates? Why do they have to wait until the end of the fiscal year to get some relief from the government?
Normally, harvest season is a time of celebration and abundance, but this year, fall will be synonymous with restraint, debt and, for some families, poverty. Nevertheless, I want to thank them for putting bread on our tables.