Rick Borotsik

[Agriculture, February 25th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, with yesterday's welcomed but belated announcement of Manitoba and Saskatchewan agricultural support, the minister acknowledged the huge impact that the cancellation of the Crow benefit had on farm net incomes.

Is the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food now admitting to western Canadian farmers that he and his government totally mishandled the cancellation of the Crow rate and that it should have been phased out over a much longer period of time, as was proposed by the previous Conservative government?

[Request For Emergency Debate, February 23rd, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the members of the House for allowing us to go to the applications for emergency debate.

I seek leave under Standing Order 52 to propose an emergency debate to address the devastating financial and mental stress affecting farming communities across the prairies due to the income crisis that continues to affect the agricultural industry.

An emergency debate, in my opinion, is required now in order to urge the government to provide tangible solutions to address the long term viability of the agricultural industry.

Today in the House we recognize that there are a number of instances now happening. We have had farmers in the Saskatchewan legislature protesting for a number of days. We have hunger strikes. Some farmers will find it difficult this spring to put crops in on their lands. The price of diesel gas right now is also a dramatic problem for agriculture in general.

The debate would give the minister of agriculture the opportunity to inform the House of the status of the negotiations on the five year safety net agreement with the provinces and the territories.

We recently witnessed the farm family tribute concert, and I would like to file—

[Municipal Grants Act, February 23rd, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. For the past five days I have filed an application for an emergency debate with respect to agriculture in our country today. For the past five days, unfortunately, we have not been able to reach that item on the order paper.

I ask for unanimous consent to go to applications for emergency debate so I can file my motion.

[Agriculture, February 15th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, a delegation from Manitoba is in Ottawa this week to meet with federal leaders to discuss what the federal government plans to offer farming communities in southwestern Manitoba that suffered through a disastrous flood last spring.

The delegation is made up of farmers, agribusiness, provincial and municipal politicians. All they are asking for is fair, equitable and consistent compensation for a natural disaster that was beyond their control. The flooding in southwestern Manitoba did not have the drama of the Red River Valley flood or the ice storm but it was nonetheless just as devastating.

I stood in the House exactly 10 months ago to make the government aware of the situation that was developing. I have also questioned the government a number of times asking it to address the issue. I am still waiting for a resolution.

Many Liberal members of the House have stated that they support the compensation package. Money was made available for the ice storm and the Red River Valley flood. I urge the members opposite to please make money and compensation available for an equally devastating flood.

[Canadian Wheat Board, February 14th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister responsible for the Canadian Wheat Board.

When Richard Klassen was commissioner of the Canadian Wheat Board, he was given a huge settlement package so that if he left the wheat board he would not go to a competitor with sensitive information for two years. One year later, he is now working for one of those competitors.

Is Mr. Klassen in breach of his severance agreement with the Canadian Wheat Board?

[Agriculture, February 14th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the minister of agriculture.

During the ice storm the federal government reimbursed farmers for their agricultural losses. During the Red River Valley flood the government contributed $26 million to farm losses in the Red River Valley. The flooding last spring in southwestern Manitoba still has not been addressed by the government. Will the minister of agriculture please tell me why his government was Johnny on the spot with those other disasters yet nothing has come forward with this disaster?

[Points Of Order, February 8th, 2000]

Table it.

[Western Alienation, February 8th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to comment on last week's release of the Liberal government's task force on western alienation. After reading all 62 pages of the report I realized that no matter how many studies the government does on the issue of alienation it still does not get it.

The report showed how completely detached the Liberals are from the needs of western Canada. Their view of western Canada is endemic whether it be their historic indifference to the farm crisis, the 1997 election call in the middle of the Red River Valley flood or a decision under the Trudeau government to create the national energy program.

As a timely example of this western indifference, just this week, yesterday and today, a delegation of respected agricultural leaders have been denied, refused a meeting with the Minister responsible for the Canadian Wheat Board, one of the few Liberals left in western Canada. The issue they wanted to talk about was western grain transportation, the Kroeger report, an item that is vital to agriculture in western Canada.

[Petitions, February 8th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, I too have a petition to file on behalf of my constituents with respect to child poverty.

The petition says that one in five children live in poverty now in Canada. Because of the 1989 motion to eradicate child poverty by the year 2000, it is suggested that parliament use the federal budget of 2000 to introduce a multi-year plan to improve the well-being of Canada's children.

The House is also aware that the hon. member for Shefford, a Progressive Conservative member, has been very active in the particular role on child poverty. I would love to present the petition on behalf of my constituents.

[Access To Information Act, February 7th, 2000]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-418, an act to amend the Access to Information Act (Crown corporations and the Canadian Wheat Board).

Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to introduce and put before the House a bill which would place crown corporations and the Canadian Wheat Board under the Access to Information Act.

The government has been remiss in putting crown corporations and the Canadian Wheat Board under the Access to Information Act, being that there is some sensitivity to competitive advantage. However, the act itself speaks to it and I would like to have the opportunity to debate it.

I am very pleased to table this bill before the House. Even though there have been some discussions about access to information previously, this is very important.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)