Carol Skelton

[Supply, February 26th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, agriculture is my passion. It greatly disturbs me to hear comments from members, like the one who questioned me, who have never been involved in the agriculture industry.

If they do not live the life that we are living on the farm right now, they do not fully understand the despair that is happening in rural communities.

[Supply, February 26th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, I find it interesting when the hon. member gets up and quotes all the parties that we supposedly are, but he is the first one who always talks about the CCF.

As a former Wheat Board permit book holder, I can stand here and say that I used the Wheat Board. I also delivered grain to the free market. I used both. In order to survive, farmers today must use it. I do not think he should be questioning a former Wheat Board permit book holder about that.

[Supply, February 26th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, it is interesting to listen to the hon. member over there. He has used that whole approach during his whole period in Parliament. It is fearmongering a sector of our agricultural industry. We are not intending to shut down supply managed groups of any kind. The hon. member should be above that.

[Supply, February 26th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister even voted against Canadian farmers in the House of Commons. The Prime Minister and his Liberals voted against providing an additional $400 million in emergency assistance for Canadian farm families. The Prime Minister has worked against farm families for 11 years.

Another constituent, Monica, wrote a long, three page letter to me about the grim situation on her farm. In her letter, she raised an issue that has become one of the greatest concerns for me too. It is the cost of administration. She wrote:

I realize that urban people don't think things are that tough, and in a way, I can't blame them. I put a lot of the blame on the media. They hear on the news that the farmers are getting more money all the time, but they don't realize that administrative costs for these programs eat away a good chunk of these funds. I know. I used to work for them.

This letter is five years old. What has changed? The government has already had 11 years.

We need a change. The Conservative Party introduced its program this morning. It shows Canadians that we do have a plan.

[Supply, February 26th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, down on the farm we have spreaders for that kind of sincerity.

The record of the Prime Minister speaks volumes about what he and his corrupt Liberals really think. The Prime Minister dramatically cut federal government agriculture programs. Rather than supporting farmers, as promised in the 1993 red book, the Liberals have ignored the needs of farmers and imposed additional--

[Supply, February 26th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, I will be sharing my time with my hon. colleague from Perth—Middlesex.

On a serious side, I would like to say a few words regarding the former agriculture minister of Saskatchewan, the hon. Clay Serby. I want to tell Clay and the people of Saskatchewan that our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family as he goes through this serious time in his life. We hope that he will soon be back and very active as the agriculture minister in the Province of Saskatchewan.

I have risen many times in the House to discuss agricultural issues. Being from a farm and being a farm partner, it is very near and dear to my heart. However, it is also the people of my province, and the people right across Canada, in the agriculture industry, who have been forgotten by the Liberal government.

In 1993 I remember the Liberals heckling the former government at every turn with the same refrain. No matter what the government of the day promised in its lead-up to the 1993 election, the Liberals chanted, “You had nine years. You had nine years”.

I am starting to think that we should say the same chant over and over as these Liberals make their election promises, especially for agriculture. I would like to say, “You had 11 years. You had 11 years”.

Whenever I hear a promise on any issue from the government, I ask myself this simple question, “If it has not done it after 11 years with a huge majority government, why should anyone in the agriculture industry believe that it will and can do it in the future?” Quite simply, I do not believe a word these Liberals say these days.

I keep copies of letters in my desk that have had a profound effect on me. In fact, those letters sent me to this place. Once in a while I review them to see if we, in this House, have done anything to help these Canadians. Unfortunately, when it comes to the letters regarding agriculture, I do not see that the Liberal government has done anything.

One letter was written to me by Donna in the lead-up to the last election. She wrote:

It is disheartening to me, as one who loves the land and the way of a 'farmer's life', to feel so discouraged. I have been the eternal optimist, the one with the positive attitude and the persevering nature. But I don't think I can be that person anymore. I weep to think of leaving here, leaving the home we've created for our children, the yard we've cared for, the trees we've planted, the acres we've tilled, and the crops we've harvested. What wonderful memories I have of our silly treks to the slough to catch frogs and the wonderful skating and tobogganing sessions we've had at the dug-out, the hikes through the pasture, and the wiener roasts in the back yard. We love the little spot on earth where we live--now sad to realize that little spot can no longer support us.

The government must realize that agriculture is more than just numbers on a trade balance sheet. It is people.

Agriculture is a way of life, a tradition and a foundation for every rural community right across Canada. When farms suffer, the entire country suffers. When farms die, so does Canada.

What makes me and my communities angry is the waste of money we see under this corrupt Liberal government. We know our tax dollars can be better spent. We know they could go a long way to supporting our farmers and rural communities during this time of crisis. We see hundreds of millions of dollars wasted. Millions of dollars are going to Liberals and their friends in the form of waste, corruption, deceit and disregard.

Then I read that Jack Layton and the NDP want to jump into bed with these corrupt Liberals. Jack Layton wants to fly his own flag of convenience and form a minority government with the Liberals. I cannot believe the NDP would try to sell that idea in my riding of Saskatoon—Rosetown—Biggar. My constituents will not support the idea of an NDP-Liberal government. They will not support the waste and corruption.

The Conservative Party of Canada stands alone in the House of Commons in calling for real reform to our nation's agricultural policies. We stand alone in demanding that farm families come before Liberal donors. We stand alone in defending the responsible spending of our tax dollars. We stand with our farm families.

In another constituent letter from Joan, she wrote:

It isn't just the farm crisis that is getting us down...It isn't only the farm crisis that hurts. It hurts to hear over and over again the same old lies being told. Figures manipulated to confuse and deceive...It's the total destruction of rural areas.

That letter was written five years ago. What has changed? These corrupt Liberals have had 11 years.

The Prime Minister has made a lot of promises and has already broken most of them. Paul Martin said last May 9 in a press release and I quote:

We need to show real support and real respect for our farmers and their families, to show our appreciation for the burden they carry in contributing to Canada's growth and wealth.

A new policy framework is certainly required to help transform Canada's rural economy into a more durable, less vulnerable and more prosperous foundation.

[Supply, February 26th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, the member talked about Canadian producers getting $5 billion. How much of that really went to the producers, and how much money did the government spend on the administration of programs?

I would like him to break down how much went directly to grain farmers and grain farm programs, not including research or any of the other Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada programs. How much of it went to grain farmers in Canada?

[Petitions, February 19th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to rise today in the House to present six petitions on behalf of citizens of Canada.

The petitioners state that whereas protecting the moral good of society is a natural and serious obligation of elected officials and cannot be left only to religious leaders and institutions; whereas, the defence of traditional marriage as the bond between one man and one woman is a serious and moral good; whereas, marriage as the lasting union of a man and a woman to the exclusion of others cannot and should not be modified by a legislative act or a court of law; whereas, the recent rulings of the appeal courts of Ontario and British Columbia redefining marriage to include same sex partners destroys traditional marriage in law and endangers Canada's social stability and future vitality and health, they request that Parliament take whatever action is required to maintain the current definition of marriage in law”.

[Supply, February 17th, 2004]

I am assuming, Madam Speaker, that the question was directed to me. I know the member was referring to what the hon. member for Selkirk—Interlake said but I would like to add to what the hon. member for Selkirk--Interlake said.

My son-in-law, who is a class police officer, does not believe in the gun registry. I do not agree with what the member is saying.

[Supply, February 17th, 2004]

Madam Speaker, I would like my hon. colleague to check his facts.