Mr. Speaker, I welcome this opportunity to participate this evening in this important debate on grain movements and current disruptions at the port of Vancouver.
Like the members opposite, government members too recognize the importance of bringing a speedy resolution to the labour dispute because of the impact it is having on the grain movement.
Our country is a trading nation. This is particularly true of the grain sector. Buyers around the world prefer Canadian grains over those from most other countries because of the quality of the product we have to offer. Those buyers trust us to provide a quality product and they want assurance of supply.
In recent years this government has worked closely with the entire Canadian grain industry to improve export performance and to institute measures to limit disruptions in the export of grains. We made amendments to the Canada Labour Code to ensure that longshoremen continue to provide services during a strike or lockout. More recently we received the Estey Report on grain handling and transportation. Working with former Justice Estey's report the government will continue to take steps to improve the grain handling and transportation systems.
We take these initiatives to ensure that we can provide buyers with a reliable source and supply of Canadian grain. We do not want to jeopardize the gains that we have made. That is why, as a government, we are deeply committed to bringing about an end to the current disruptions.
We also recognize that our grain producers and others in the grain industry are innocent third parties who are caught in this dispute. We recognize the financial implications of lost sales both now and in the long term. We previously heard about a contract that we have already lost in the last 48 hours.
What Canadians as a whole may not recognize is the incredible importance of the grains and the oilseed industry to the Canadian economy. The sale of grains and oilseeds and related products injects about $12 billion a year into our national finances. The impact of this strike will be felt from sea to sea to sea.
In terms of exports, the value of Canada's sales in those products was estimated at more than $6 billion in 1998. These products are shipped around the world. The United Kingdom was once our chief customer for exporting grain, but today it is Asia. At the same time, we have developed products for very specialized markets in countries such as France and Brazil.
I can assure members of this House that as we work our way through this disruption and beyond we will be there working hand in hand with the industry to maintain the confidence of grain buyers. We will be reminding buyers that Canada's agriculture and agri-food sector is a reliable supplier of safe and quality products.
As our Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food has often said, our red maple leaf is recognized around the world as a symbol of quality. I am sure we are all proud of that maple leaf and we want to do everything we can to support it.
Our annual exports of all agriculture and agri-food products have been at $20 billion plus for the past two years. The industry is keen to see this figure grow year after year. We have set a goal of capturing 4% of the world's agriculture and agri-food trade by the year 2005. This would be great for all Canadians. This government is committed to helping industry meet that goal. We are working hard to improve our export market access and to help industry promote its products around the world.
Going into the next round of World Trade Organization negotiations at the end of this year, we will be pursuing a more open, fair and market oriented agricultural trading system. A successful outcome at the WTO is a prime goal of the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food. As recently as last week the minister was in Japan and made that point to industry organizations, governments and representatives alike. I know my hon. colleagues from the PC Party and the Bloc will concur in the efforts made by our minister last week because they were there to accompany the minister and to see the great work that Canada is doing.
Our minister also met with several grain and oilseed buyers. These buyers were aware of the current situation in Canada and they sought our assurance with respect to reliability of supply.
Since the minister's return to Canada he has been in contact with the grain industry and his provincial counterparts. The minister is fully aware of the impact of disruptions at the port of Vancouver and no one is more anxious than he that this situation be resolved quickly.
As a member of parliament I urge a speedy end to this picketing and the disruptions affecting grain shipments through the port of Vancouver.
We recognize there is a lot at stake not only for the grains and oilseed industries but for the Canadian economy as a whole.
Tonight we are talking about one of the world's two most important commodities. I am sure that someone would say water is our most important commodity, and we are blessed with an ample supply, but certainly number two in importance is food. What we are discussing here tonight is the shipment of food. There are people around the world waiting and counting on this food so they can survive.
I know the hon. member for Winnipeg Transcona would concur, I believe, that grain movement is for the common good of all people.
The HRD committee heard many witnesses when we were changing the labour code so that grain would move on the prairies across this great country and through the Rockies to the west coast. Many of the witnesses said we could not treat grain any different from any other commodity. However, grain is food and we have to treat it a bit different than we do coal or sulphur or potash. It is food and there is nothing more important.
I am glad, as I am sure the opposition is, to see our government supporting our western farmers because no one works harder than the producers of grain. On a daily basis our farmers are confronted with various risks such as weather, pests, disease, market fluctuations and cut throat competition.
I am ashamed when I see the prices our farmers are receiving for this wonderful product, the best grain in the world. However, this is not a local situation. It is a Canadian challenge but it is not just here. Around the world grain prices are lower than at any time during the dirty thirties and we have to work together.
I am glad the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food announced last month the details of the agricultural income disaster assistance program. Our government is proud to support our producers. We are proud to have the support of the other parties here this evening. I know they have made a few comments about what we have to do with the labour code in the future, but tonight and tomorrow we have to work together to ensure this grain gets moving so we can help feed the world.
