Lost his last election, in 2011, with 25% of the vote.
Agriculture May 12th, 2004
Mr. Speaker, in fact, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency does exactly that.
First, how we have worked in this situation is how we have worked in agriculture. We bring in the producers, the processors, and the provincial government. We work very closely with them to ensure that the actions we take are first and foremost in conformity with the best science that we know.
Second, we want to respect the farmers and their farming practices.
Agriculture May 10th, 2004
Mr. Speaker, I was in Quebec last Thursday and Friday, where I met with the hog producers in Quebec. They brought this issue to my attention. I told them I would most certainly look into it. I have asked the Canadian Food Inspection Agency to look into this issue.
Agriculture May 10th, 2004
Mr. Speaker, I am not sure what the hon. member is talking about. In fact, it is colleagues on the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food who have asked the industry for some information, on which they are meeting this afternoon. This is not the position of the Government of Canada. This is the position of the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food. The hon. member may want to put that question to them.
The Government of Canada has worked very closely with all aspects of the industry, including the cattlemen, including the packers, and including the provinces, to make sure we have a unified voice on that. That voice is telling--
Agriculture May 10th, 2004
In fact, Mr. Speaker, we are moving forward on this issue. As the hon. member said, the Prime Minister had a direct talk with the President. We were very pleased with the response of the President of the United States, who said very clearly that he wants these borders open and he wants them open now. He also said very clearly that he wants his decision, or the decision of his government, to be based on science, and that is exactly what we want.
Agriculture April 27th, 2004
Mr. Speaker, the hon. member should know that was a legal decision made in the United States by a U.S. judge. We are looking now at the options that we have. What that shows to us is the importance of getting the border open and getting it opened as soon as possible.
I can assure all hon. members that the government will not give up on the farmers and farm families across the country who depend on that border being open.
Agriculture April 27th, 2004
Mr. Speaker, as the hon. member said, the Government of Canada is deeply committed to getting the border open. Officials from my department and from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency have worked closely and tirelessly with their American counterparts to develop a North American approach to this issue.
I will be meeting with Secretary Veneman again. In fact I just got off the phone with her 10 minutes ago. I am continuing to work with her to ensure the border is opened as soon as possible.
Agriculture April 26th, 2004
Mr. Speaker, the plum pox is a very serious disease for the tender fruit processing and nursery industry across the country. That is why I was pleased today to announce, with the member for Niagara Falls and the member for Erie—Lincoln, a contribution by the Government of Canada of some $80 million to help eradicate the virus.
The Government of Canada takes very seriously its responsibilities to eradicate viruses such as that and will continue to work with the provinces of Ontario and Nova Scotia to do exactly that.
Government Assistance April 26th, 2004
Mr. Speaker, the Government of Canada has been working very closely, both in Nova Scotia and in and around the Toronto area in terms of the eradication of the Asian longhorn beetle.
As the hon. member knows, this pest and a number of other ones, and one other one in Nova Scotia, are creating havoc in forestry areas throughout Ontario. I want to give him my assurance that the Government of Canada will do everything in its power to eradicate it.
In terms of the issue with regard to hurricane Juan and the circumstances that were created because of that, that is a different issue dealing--
Government Assistance April 26th, 2004
Mr. Speaker, the hon. member is right that the Government of Canada, through the Health of Animals Act, was allowed to compensate British Columbia producers because of avian influenza.
In terms of the longhorn beetle, we are working very closely with both the communities and those who have had trees destroyed by the longhorn beetle.
In terms of Nova Scotia and hurricane Juan, those are different circumstances. I know the Government of Canada has been working very closely with the Government of Nova Scotia on that issue.
Agriculture April 23rd, 2004
Mr. Speaker, as the hon. member is aware, this is an issue being dealt with on the best science that we know. In fact, at the time, we believed that we needed to depopulate all of the birds in that area.
In terms of specific cases such as that, the CFIA will be speaking with those people and will be working with them.
In terms of broader compensation, the Government of Canada is now talking with the industry and the province of British Columbia. We are trying to find out exactly what is happening on the ground now in terms of what the need will be.
Once those discussions are completed and once we are through this area of depopulating, then we will be in a better position to talk about the longer term--