Mr. Speaker, I do not have to repeat. I gave the answer earlier and it is the identical answer here, because all producers, dairy or beef, in all provinces will be treated the same.
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Agriculture October 31st, 2003
Mr. Speaker, I do not have to repeat. I gave the answer earlier and it is the identical answer here, because all producers, dairy or beef, in all provinces will be treated the same.
Agriculture October 31st, 2003
Mr. Speaker, any further programs that are developed in conjunction with the industry and with the provinces will treat dairy farmers and beef farmers in exactly the same way in all provinces in this country, as they should. I can tell the hon. member and both the dairy producers and the beef producers of the province of Quebec that they will be treated the same as those in other provinces.
Agriculture October 29th, 2003
Mr. Speaker, we have been working with the provinces, with all of the ministers and with the cattle industry, both the beef and the dairy industries, across the country for the last number of days in order to put together a program to help in this situation of older animals. This shows very clearly the urgency the government recognizes in the situation with the older animals.
When that program is completed, it will apply to Quebec dairy farmers and beef cattle farmers in the very same way it will apply to dairy farmers and beef farmers in every other province in Canada.
Agriculture October 29th, 2003
Mr. Speaker, we have government inspectors in all federally inspected plants across this country and their job is to find and to seek out these situations.
The hon. member would see that, for example, in one of the situations there was one carcass that had some contamination. That carcass was pulled out of the food chain until the corrections were made. That is the job of the inspectors. That is why our system is respected and that is why our system works.
Ethics October 28th, 2003
Mr. Speaker, I can assure the hon. member, the House and all Canadians that I have declared every gift certainly within the knowledge that I have and that I received.
Agriculture October 28th, 2003
Mr. Speaker, the opposition members want government to have discussions with the provinces and with the industry before taking action and that is exactly what we have been doing right from May 20 with regard to this issue.
The federal government has put millions of dollars forward. The provinces have been there. We have been there together. We have worked with the cattlemen, the dairy industry, the processors and the manufacturers. Canadians have supported the situation in Canada.
We will continue to take that approach because it is working.
Agriculture October 28th, 2003
Mr. Speaker, it is very evident that the government has been listening to the beef industry and the dairy industry in the challenges they have been facing because of the BSE find last May. I have discussed that on a regular basis with those in the cattle industry and in the dairy sector as well. I also discussed it with all the provincial ministers yesterday.
I will continue to do that in order to provide ways to support the marketing and use of older animals in our beef industry.
Energy October 24th, 2003
Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Natural Resources and the government have made it very clear that we see the opportunities and advantages of wind power and wind energy.
Some dollars have been designated in budgets and in actions of the department in the past. It is an area that has tremendous opportunity ahead. It is an area that many people are looking at and it is an area where investments are being made.
We can continue to do that with the support of all Canadians in order to reduce greenhouse gases, provide other sources of energy, and build upon the requirements of those fossil--
Agriculture October 24th, 2003
Mr. Speaker, I have certainly understood that.
That is why the government has put forward its support to the beef industry by 60% and the provinces put 40%. We are doing our share. When the Constitution says it is a shared jurisdiction, most people would expect that to be fifty-fifty.
The process and programs have been there in the past. In any program that will be developed in the future for older animals, Quebec dairy or beef producers will have equitable access to that program as any other beef or dairy producer across Canada.
Agriculture October 24th, 2003
Mr. Speaker, I will continue to work with the Liberal caucus members from the Province of Quebec and the cattle industry across Canada in every province.
The BSE recovery program was used by the beef industry and dairy industry in the Province of Quebec with considerable success.
My own staff, officials and I were in meetings this week with cattle representatives from the Province of Quebec representing both the beef and dairy industry in specific reference to older animals. Any program that comes forward will be available for both beef and dairy older animals.