Mr. Speaker, it is a busy time for farmers in Oxford and across our country as they bring home the harvest. Oxford is home to more than 3,000 grain farmers out of the 28,000 in our province who generate more than $27 billion for our economy and support more than 90,000 jobs. Our farmers rise before dawn, work late and battle the elements.
However, today they face more than the weather; they face the Liberal government, which attacks their way of life. Farmers are burdened by rising input costs, red tape, supply chain disruptions, punishing fertilizer tariffs and a trade crisis that includes a 75% tariff on canola by Beijing. Despite the Prime Minister's claim of being a master negotiator, trade disputes with the U.S. and China have worsened. He even met with the Premier of China yesterday, and surprise, surprise, there is no deal. This hurts our farmers, and they pay the price. Despite it all, our farmers press on: long days in the field, early mornings and generations farming together.
As Conservatives, we thank God for our farmers, because when our farmers grow, Canada grows.