Agriculture and Agri-Food  Mr. Speaker, our government will always stand up for Canadian producers, farmers and the agri-food industry. We are very concerned by the U.S. decision to launch a global safeguard investigation of fresh and frozen blueberries that could eventually lead to the imposition of tariffs on imports from Canada.

Agriculture and Agri-Food  Mr. Speaker, I can assure him that, together with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, we are working very closely with businesses. We must deal with a multitude of challenges with respect to trade barriers. I can assure him that we are doing everything we can to protect our inspection system, so that it is always robust and recognized, and to support all our producers and processors as effectively as possible.

International Trade  Mr. Speaker, I want to reassure my colleague and all poultry and egg producers that we will proceed with the compensation. We have committed to making the announcement before the end of the year for the compensation related to CETA and the CPTPP, and the conversation is ongoing for NAFTA.

International Trade  Mr. Speaker, I know how hard it has been for our farmers in the last year. They have had to face many challenges, and we want to thank them, because we were able to rely on them to have good food on our tables. Members know that I am working very hard with my provincial colleagues to improve the business risk management programs.

Agriculture  Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank our farmers, as well as the ranchers and food workers, because they have been working extremely hard. It is because of their hard work that we were able to have good food on our plates during the crisis. We are there for them and we will continue to be there for them.

Agriculture  Mr. Speaker, my colleague is right when she says that the farmers are good stewards of the land. They care for the land, they care for our environment and we do appreciate it. In the Speech from the Throne yesterday, we recognized that they will be strong partners in the relaunch of the economy and also to fight climate change.

COVID-19 Pandemic and Other Matters  Mr. Chair, I want to assure my colleague that this issue is extremely important to our government and to the Minister of Official Languages. All of us, including the minister, are working very hard on this matter. We will ensure that this is acted on as soon as possible.

COVID-19 Pandemic and Other Matters  Mr. Speaker, we have made significant changes to different programs. We have changed the eligibility criteria to include a greater number of farmers. We are working very hard with the provinces right now to see how we can improve different business risk management programs. Let me remind him that these business risk management programs allow the farmers to get at least an average of $1.6 billion a year, and it might be closer to $2 billion this year, in addition to all the other investments we have made.

COVID-19 Pandemic and Other Matters  Mr. Speaker, I would like to remind my colleague of everything we have done for the agricultural sector since the beginning. We have changed the eligibility for the Canada emergency business account to allow a greater number of farmers to apply, which could mean up to $670 million for the forgivable portion only.

COVID-19 Pandemic and Other Matters  Madam Chair, members will recall that we committed to give dairy farmers $1.75 billion in compensation for the Europe and trans-Pacific deals. They have already received $345 million, and the second payment will be made this year. I can assure the member that we are just as strongly committed when it comes to the deal with the United States and other supply-managed sectors and processors.

COVID-19 Pandemic and Other Matters  Mr. Speaker, I want to assure my colleague that I am following this file very closely. We are working with the various stakeholders, including the producers who have a stake in the matter.

Business of Supply  Madam Chair, we gave dairy farmers exactly what they wanted, which was to increase the loan capacity of the Canadian Dairy Commission by $200 million. Thanks to supply management, the commission is a very experienced organization and perfectly capable of adapting to the situation.

Business of Supply  Madam Chair, I will repeat what we said to dairy producers who were asking us to provide more resources to the Canadian Dairy Commission. It is not a mortgage. In fact, it gives them the possibility of buying additional quantities of milk-based products, namely butter and cheese, store them and resell that cheese and butter at the same price when demand resumes.

Business of Supply  Madam Chair, in the supplementary estimates, amounts are allocated to various groups of producers, including meat processors. That helps our producers indirectly. Regarding dairy farmers more specifically, our commitment remains firm. We will provide $1.75 billion for the first two agreements with Europe and the trans-Pacific region.

Agriculture committee  I don't have the right words in English, but it's very sad that we have lost two workers to COVID, and I know that others are sick. As far as I know, the isolation period is going very well. The right measures have been put in place and the collaboration of the local public health is there.