Mr. Chair, as the Minister of Agriculture has said many times before, the bedrock principle for all of our agriculture programs is farmers first.
We have to keep the farm gate strong to keep our processing and retail sectors strong. We will do what it takes to help Canadians weather this global economic storm. We will help protect the jobs of today while readying our economy to create the jobs of tomorrow. We are taking Canadian agriculture to new markets.
This minister is opening markets around the world, so that Canadian farmers can sell more products to their customers. I am also glad he travels Canada, talking to farmers first. I was glad to have him in our riding talking to farmers there.
Our government is targeting markets, such as the United States, Russia, Japan, India, China, Korea, Mexico, the Middle East, Morocco and the EU. We are building stable, bankable programs so that farmers can weather economic storms.
Farmers expect governments to work together, and we have worked with the provinces and territories to finalize the new suite of programs under growing forward. We have strengthened our food safety system and are ensuring that Canadians continue to have confidence in the products our farmers grow.
As I already said, we are facing the impact of a global economic storm. This government has been on top of this situation with proactive measures to make sure we come out stronger than ever.
In January our finance minister announced more than just a budget. It was an economic action plan for Canada to see us through this global downturn. That plan was based on good ideas from thousands of Canadians.
In my riding, as I am sure in others, we met with many groups from agriculture, business to producers to gather ideas for the budget. We wrote this economic action plan based on what was best for the economy and what was best for Canadians as we build toward the future.
The economic action plan included a flexible new community adjustment fund in the range of $1 billion to help communities as they adjust to changing economic realities. We are cutting taxes for families and businesses to make sure they have the cash in their pockets to keep our economy running.
The government's action plan also delivered on key investments for Canadian farm families and for the farm families in southern Ontario and right in my riding, too. We all know we need more young people taking over the farms. Unfortunately, it is often impossible. It takes a huge capital investment to buy the equipment, land and quota necessary to get going. That capital is now harder to get than ever because of the current credit crunch.
That is why our government announced changes to the Farm Improvement and Marketing Cooperatives Loans Act, or FIMCLA as it is known. These changes will make it easier for new young farmers to get the credit they need to get started on the farm and to keep Canadian agriculture growing.
This government is working with Canadian producers to put farmers first in every agricultural policy we put forward. We are keeping our promises to Canadian farm families. We are keeping our communities strong by focusing on real help on the hardest hit. This government is taking good ideas from everyday Canadians to make sure Canada weathers the storm.
Young families and new farmers want a way of life, some want what mom and dad and grandma and grandpa had, and some really want a special way of life. In discussions with young farmers, not one has mentioned wanting cheques, just a fair shot at being a farmer, to have a family live the good life.
Can the minister expand on what we have done to make that possible?