Pierre Lemieux

[Agriculture and Agri-Food, March 27th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, let me say that yesterday the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and the Minister of Transport, under the leadership of our Prime Minister, delivered important legislation that is decisive in the way that it challenges the rail transportation system to deliver grain to the ports. It would establish minimum volume requirements for grain movements, strengthen contracts between producers and shippers, and it would increase inter-switching limits to create more rail competition.

This is a good piece of legislation for our Canadian farmers, and I ask the opposition to support it.

[Petitions, March 27th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, I have two petitions from Canadians who recognize the inherent rights of farmers to save, reuse, select, exchange, and sell seeds. They are calling upon Parliament to enshrine in legislation the inalienable rights of farmers and Canadians to save, reuse, select, exchange, and sell seeds.

[Rail Transportation, March 7th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, given the current problem with moving grain to port, we are making an announcement today to benefit our farmers in that regard.

The railways have performed poorly in this regard, which is why the announcement will be asking them to double the transport of grain from the western Prairies to port. Otherwise, they will face fines of up to $100,000. We will also be introducing legislation here in the House, get to work legislation for the railways.

[Agriculture and Agri-Food, March 7th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, as I said, today is indeed a great day for western Canadian grain farmers, as this government takes action to support them in moving their grain to port.

The Liberal Party is mired in its Wheat Board theories and about how that would fix the problem, and that is absolute nonsense. Today, the minister announced that we are going to require the railways to more than double the amount of grain currently being moved or face penalties of up to $100,000. Also, we will be introducing get-to-work legislation to further address the situation. I ask the Liberals to get on board and to help western Canadian grain farmers.

[Agriculture and Agri-Food, March 7th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, today is a great day for western farmers in Canada. Up until two days ago, the opposition's solution was to bring back the mandatory Wheat Board monopoly. That is exactly what western grain farmers do not want.

Today the Minister of Transport and the Minister of Agriculture have announced action on behalf of the government, to help our grain farmers move their grain to port. I would ask the opposition, particularly the Liberals, to stop sniping from the sidelines and, instead, get on board and help our western Canadian grain farmers.

[Agriculture and Agri-Food, March 7th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, today in Winnipeg, the Minister of Agriculture and the Minister of Transport announced concrete measures to get grain moving in western Canada. Our government will require the railways to move more than double the amount of grain currently being moved, or face penalties up to $100,000. In addition, we will be introducing get-to-work legislation to further address this situation.

We are sending the message that the way the railways have performed with respect to grain movement is unacceptable. Farmers knew we would act, and we are acting.

[Agriculture and Agri-Food, March 7th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, just to show how disconnected the NDP is from western grain farmers, the NDP has been advocating a monopoly by the Canadian Wheat Board as the only solution. I would like to read a quote about just how ridiculous a solution that is. Levi Wood, the president of the Western Canadian Wheat Growers Association, states:

It’s preposterous to suggest that the move to marketing freedom is the cause of this year’s shipping problems. In the first year of an open market, our wheat and barley moved to market without a hitch. The problems being experienced in this second year are instead related to the failure of the railways to provide adequate shipping capacity to move this year’s crop.

We agree. I ask the NDP to get current on this file.

[Agriculture and Agri-Food, March 7th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, as the member knows, there have been a number of complicating factors affecting grain logistics, one of them being cold temperatures and the other a record harvest, an additional 20 to 25 million tonnes in grain harvested.

Our farmers need a safe, reliable, and efficient logistics systems. As we have said previously, our government is taking action to help our farmers move their grain to port.

I would ask my opposition colleagues to put aside the rhetoric and instead follow the announcement that is going to be made this morning, showing that our government is taking action.

[Agriculture and Agri-Food, March 6th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, as I explained, the economy is the number one priority for our government, and certainly the grain sector plays an active role in the strength of our economy.

Farmers deserve a reliable and efficient logistics system, but a key element of the logistics system is the railway system. The railway system has been performing poorly.

Farmers know that we will take action.

[Agriculture and Agri-Food, March 6th, 2014]

That is right, Mr. Speaker. I have the floor.

Mr. Speaker, I am telling the opposition that our government has been actively engaged on this file for a very long time, with all stakeholders in the industry. Farmers know that we will take action.