Supply Management  Mr. Speaker, Canada's agricultural tradition is recognized around the world. It is built on a solid footing and the solid values upheld by our Canadian farmers, such as family, hard work and honesty. Over the past 13 years, the Liberals denied those traditional farm values. With no vision for the future, the Liberals betrayed us.

Agri-Food  Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague for his question. We recognize the concerns of milk producers with regard to imports of milk ingredients not subject to the Customs Tariff. We will defend supply management. It is an absolute priority. We are monitoring very closely the situation of milk proteins exceeding this level and, together with the industry, we will examine ways of solving the problem.

Agri-Food  Mr. Speaker, the solutions to these challenges must be developed jointly with Canadian milk producers and processors. I am pleased that producers and processors have accepted my invitation and that of the minister to work together to find solutions to the major challenges faced by the dairy industry.

Agriculture  Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for his question. Yesterday, a press release from the Union des producteurs agricoles in Quebec had this to say: Farmers in Quebec and the rest of Canada will be able to breathe a bit easier in the coming months thanks to the new enhanced spring credit advance program announced yesterday by the federal agriculture minister.

Agriculture  Mr. Speaker, in the past five years, has the Bloc Québécois ever voted for a single law to help farm producers in Quebec and Canada? No. We have announced an enhanced advance program that will double the amount of interest-free loans to $100,000 per farmer, regardless of where the farmer lives.

Agriculture  Mr. Speaker, over the balance of the past 13 years did the Liberal Party prove to us that it provided Canadian farmers with a short- and long-term vision for agriculture? We are obliged to say no. The member for Malpeque is quite mistaken. Our government ordered the Department of Agriculture and Agri-Food to start working immediately with farm groups that administer the improved advance payment programs, to double the maximum amount of interest-free loans to $100,000 per Canadian farmer.

Agriculture  Mr. Speaker, we should ask the government that was in power at the time and voted against emergency aid of $400 million in 2001 for Canadian farm families. In addition, it voted against assistance for farmers hit hard by mad cow disease. The Liberals had 13 years to help Canadian farmers and they failed.

Agriculture  Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for his excellent question. In its latest budget, the government has introduced a measure to treat agricultural cooperative dividends as a tax deferral. This measure will benefit many Canadian farmers who are members of agricultural cooperatives.

Grain Transportation  Mr. Speaker, this government has promised $750 million in aid under the grains and oilseeds programs. To date $515 million has been paid out to farmers. This amount—

Grain Transportation  Mr. Speaker, we know that producers need help now, and it is now that we are giving them help.

The Budget  Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate my colleague on her speech. I would like to ask her a question. What is the Bloc Québécois' vision, and what is her own, with respect to measures that will ensure a prosperous future for Quebec workers?

The Budget  Mr. Speaker, I congratulate my colleague on his speech. How would the Bloc Québécois propose to aid development and regional economic diversity in order to help workers over 55 re-enter the labour market?

The Budget  Mr. Speaker, I congratulate my colleague for Châteauguay—Saint-Constant on her speech. I would like this colleague to explain her vision for future Quebec generations, who will have to manage the new challenges of globalization of markets, technology and know-how. What future path does the Bloc Québécois propose for my government and my children?

Livestock Industry  As you know, Mr. Speaker, the Conservative Party went to bat for Canadian beef producers when the dispute with R-CALF first started. We are very pleased that R-CALF decided not to follow through with the appeal procedure. Finally, the Conservative government will continue to proudly defend the international interests of the Canadian beef industry.

Agriculture  Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague from Richmond—Arthabaska for his question. Our government already paid $755 million at the very beginning of its mandate to help Canadian and Quebec farmers. Of this amount, $39 million went to La Financière agricole du Québec.