Mr. Speaker, our minister of agriculture has met with the minister for Nova Scotia, his deputy minister, and the producers of Nova Scotia.
The facts are coming in. They are being distilled and the response will be forthcoming very soon.
House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2006, with 53% of the vote.
Canadian Farmers November 24th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, our minister of agriculture has met with the minister for Nova Scotia, his deputy minister, and the producers of Nova Scotia.
The facts are coming in. They are being distilled and the response will be forthcoming very soon.
Canadian Farmers November 24th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, it is pretty early for the hon. member to be self-righteous in demanding compensation from this side of the House. If his party were in government it would have cut $600 million from that department. It would not even be called the department of agriculture.
This government and this cabinet know the situation of the farmers and are duly addressing it.
Farm Income November 24th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, as I stated in my first answer, everything that can be done is being done to address the farm income crisis.
The minister and the government know there is a crisis. They are well aware of what is happening in the farming communities, especially in hogs and grains. In due course, a program will be announced.
Farm Income November 24th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, the hon. member is a member of the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food. That committee is holding hearings on farm income which will be given to the minister. He knows the minister held a national meeting with farm organizations on November 12. He knows that the deputy ministers of agriculture have been meeting with their counterparts in the provinces. The advisory committee on farm income safety nets has reported to the minister as he requested before the end of November. Progress is being made. The minister has talked to his cabinet colleagues. Within a short period of time, an announcement will be forthcoming.
Multiple Sclerosis November 18th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, there certainly are times when perseverance pays off. A classic example of this is Margaret Penwarden from Victoria West, which is in my riding of Egmont in Prince Edward Island.
Margaret was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis almost three years ago. She started taking Betaseron in July 1996. This drug produced a substantial improvement in her condition. The problem, however, was that Betaseron was a very expensive drug, with an average annual cost of approximately $17,000. Even with a drug plan she had to pay $6,000 out of her own pocket.
Many P.E.I. MS sufferers had no drug plan and therefore could not afford the drug. Margaret, supported by the Atlantic division of the MS Society of Canada, started a crusade to have these drug costs covered by the provincial health plan.
While it was a long and arduous fight, ranging from a letter writing campaign to an actual sit-in at the provincial legislature, Margaret and her MS sufferers eventually prevailed. In October of this year the provincial government finally announced that the cost of Betaseron and three other MS treatment drugs would, in part, be covered under the provincial plan.
Canadian Human Rights Act November 17th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, the hon. member's question on September 30 was: “Can the minister assure us that Quebec sheep farmers are receiving the same treatment from the agency in all aspects as their counterparts in other provinces, and is he prepared to produce agency documents to prove this?”
I am happy to report that the information requested was provided to the hon. member for Louis-Hébert in writing.
As the hon. member has stated, we have ordered a number of sheep quarantined and slaughtered, primarily in Quebec. These actions have been taken to control and prevent the spread of scrapie and to protect Canadian consumers and the sheep industry. Our actions have been based on Health Canada's recommendation that animals that have been infected or exposed to scrapie must be kept out of the food chain.
As a result of the difficult but necessary actions to date, there has been significant progress made in containing the further spread of scrapie in the sheep population in Quebec.
We sympathize with the situation of these farmers who have worked hard to develop their industry. We have taken a number of steps to assist them.
Since the beginning of 1997 the Government of Canada has paid out more than $2 billion in compensation to sheep farmers in Quebec. In February we amended our legislation to include compensation for disposal costs. Recently we doubled the maximum level for compensation available for sheep destroyed to $600.
In addition, the Farm Credit Corporation developed a deferred loan program to assist affected farmers in re-establishing their flocks. We have also committed close to $400,000 to research into validating a test for scrapie in live animals. In taking all these steps we have made every effort to consult with and to work with representatives of the sheep industry.
I can assure the House this government has treated Quebec sheep farmers fairly and equitably.
Canadian Human Rights Act November 17th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, I commend the hon. member for raising the question about the crisis in farm income.
The minister of agriculture is very concerned about the farm income situation. When the official opposition requested a debate in the House of Commons on farm income, it was the minister who led the debate.
Further to the debate in the House of Commons the minister convened a meeting on November 4 with industry leaders, provincial ministers and farm leaders. At that time officials were instructed to accelerate the process to consider both short term and long term solutions to the expected farm income declines in 1998 and 1999. Federal and provincial deputy ministers of agriculture met on November 5 and 6 and are actively developing a full range of options that could be considered.
As well, the industry advisory group on safety nets met on November 10 and will be sharing with the minister and officials its view on alternative actions that could be undertaken by governments including the possible approaches in designing a national disaster program.
We have worked co-operatively with our provincial colleagues and industry players on developing the current safety net system. We will continue to work co-operatively on making the system even better. This is a key priority for the minister of agriculture. He is diligent in his efforts to ensure that farmers across Canada have the necessary tools to manage price and income fluctuations that are beyond their control.
The minister is committed to acting as quickly as possible but not rashly, irresponsibly or prematurely. The necessary tools are being developed to improve the effectiveness of the farm safety net system as quickly as possible, but I am sure the hon. member will agree that inequitable, ineffective and unaffordable ad hoc measures are not the answer.
Action must be taken quickly, however. It is important to take the time necessary to ensure the actions taken are the best ones for farmers and for all Canadians.
Canadian Farmers November 5th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, as I indicated, the three partners in agriculture, the federal government, the provincial governments and the producers, did meet yesterday. They recognize the extent of the downturn and the impact it is having on Canadian farmers. That was only the first step. It was a major step.
The hon. member's problem is being addressed through that process. In due time I think he will be very pleased with the results.
Canadian Farmers November 5th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, yesterday afternoon the minister of agriculture convened a meeting with his counterparts in the provinces and with farm leaders to discuss the very serious question of the downturn in farm incomes.
Today the deputy ministers are meeting. The next steps will be taken. We are addressing the problem of farm incomes.
Agriculture November 4th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, the minister of agriculture said no such thing yesterday. He said that this government is putting in $1 billion a year along with the provincial counterparts to help out the farming industry in Canada. This is year after year after year. That is in addition to crop insurance and Farm Credit Corporation policies. The questioner is way out of line with his question.