House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2006, with 53% of the vote.
Speech From The Throne October 18th, 1999
Mr. Speaker, hon. member was saying how great the previous government was. Why then were the Conservatives reduced from a majority government to two seats in 1993? Why is the member still a member of the fifth party in the House and not sitting on this side?
World Food Day October 15th, 1999
Mr. Speaker, Saturday, October 16 has been designated World Food Day.
At the world food summit in Rome in November 1996 Canada joined 186 other nations to endorse the summit's goal, which is to reduce the number of undernourished people by half by the year 2015. Canada's action plan for food security, launched by the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food on World Food Day last year, is the result of that commitment.
As a major exporter of food and related products and expertise, and as one of the largest donors of food aid, Canada has made some very valuable contributions to world food security.
Fighting food insecurity is a collective effort by government, by civil society, by business and by communities. It is also an individual effort from all of us. On behalf of the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and myself I encourage everyone to demonstrate their concern by contributing a food donation to their local food bank.
This year's theme is “Youth Against Hunger”. This is a good time to remind Canada's young people of the positive role they can play in the fight against worldwide hunger and in the achievement of food security for all.
Agriculture June 11th, 1999
Mr. Speaker, the government has responded to every disaster that has occurred in western Canada. It has responded with a $1.5 billion program to help those farmers.
What we ask the farmers to do and what we ask hon. members opposite to do is to spend their summer helping their farmers fill out their application forms, because every other farmer in Canada is doing it and they are getting money for it.
Agriculture June 11th, 1999
Mr. Speaker, yesterday hon. members were saying that they wanted to see the minister of agriculture beyond the borders of Ontario. Now that he is going beyond the borders of Ontario, they do not want to see him. They cannot have it both ways.
The minister is going out to talk to producers to see firsthand what the problems are and he will take steps to solve those problems.
Agriculture June 10th, 1999
Mr. Speaker, the minister of agriculture has stated that in good years farmers should be contributing to the NISA program which are 50-cent dollars and that in bad years they should be withdrawing those NISA dollars because they are bad years. That is the purpose of the program.
When the minister goes out to see the extent of the devastation on those two provinces, he will then take further action after consultations with the producers on the ground.
Agriculture June 10th, 1999
Mr. Speaker, as a result of the reports from western Canada as to the flooded areas, the minister will be taking a personal trip out there tomorrow to view firsthand the results of the flooding and to talk to producers on the ground about what should be done next.
Foreign Publishers Advertising Services Act June 9th, 1999
Mr. Speaker, as has already been stated in the House, federal money is flowing out under the agriculture income disaster assistance program. Program administrators have started processing applications and sending cheques to those farmers who have submitted a complete application package.
We acted swiftly to pay the federal portion in those provinces where the federal government delivers the program so that farmers could have money in their hands. When those provinces, and that includes Saskatchewan and Manitoba, sign the agreement producers will receive the second portion of their disaster payment.
Other provinces are delivering the program. B.C., Alberta, P.E.I. and Ontario are using an existing administrative system. Members should be aware that Alberta has had a disaster assistance program since 1995 to which the federal government has contributed its companion program money. Farmers in those provinces started receiving money several weeks ago, notwithstanding the federal-provincial discussions on cost sharing and administrative issues.
I think our record is very good. AIDA started out as a general concept just before Christmas and in a mere four months has become a reality. Money is flowing to farmers for a program that is targeted and pays benefits to people who really need them.
Hon. members also realize that this program will not buy us trouble with our trading partners on the international scene. Benefits will not be captured by foreign treasuries but by our own farmers. This is no simple accomplishment in such a short period of time.
Federal and provincial governments should be commended for all the hard work that went into the AIDA program.
Division No. 424 May 10th, 1999
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the member for Lambton—Kent—Middlesex for her question. She is a strong member of the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food. She has shown a great and abiding interest in Canada's upcoming negotiations with our WTO partners.
These are crucial talks and the government has a firm commitment to consult closely with the agriculture and food sector and with provincial governments before its establishes an initial negotiating position for the upcoming World Trade Organization negotiations on agriculture.
Recently in Ottawa, people from all parts of the agriculture and food sector and from all regions of the country came together to provide their advice about the elements of an initial Canadian position.
The conference heard that Canada should seek to eliminate export subsidies in the upcoming negotiations. Participants also indicated that Canada should push to improve market access, particularly with respect to minimum access commitments. Industry participants called for clearer rules and stronger disciplines on trade distorting domestic subsidies.
Finally, the industry indicated that Canada should continue to insist that health and safety standards should be based on science not emotion.
These are some of the main highlights of the discussion. The government has listened carefully to all the views expressed at the conference and they will be considered as we work to develop a negotiating position.
The Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and his provincial counterparts will discuss the outcome of the consultations at their meeting in Prince Albert this coming July. The government will then take a decision on an initial agricultural negotiating position that will truly reflect the needs and interests of Canadian agriculture in the food sector.
Agriculture April 30th, 1999
Mr. Speaker, before money can flow to farmers under this program, applications have to be made and processed. To this point only in excess of 500 applications from farmers in the hon. member's province have been filled out and sent in.
The minister has already stated that money will flow for those applications that have been processed and it will continue to be accelerated as time goes on.
Agriculture April 30th, 1999
Mr. Speaker, the member is wrong. The federal money is flowing today, as the minister stated a few days ago that it would be. The federal money is flowing. The minister has signed contracts with Saskatchewan. We are not waiting for those contracts to be signed by the provinces. We are sending out money now. As soon as the provinces sign, more money will be sent out as soon as possible.