SoVote

Mr. Larry Maguire (Brandon—Souris, CPC)

Jun/21/22 2:05:51 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Westman’s farmers and ranchers. Despite the challenges Mother Nature has thrown at them, they press on each day. A Colorado low hit in late spring that hurt the livestock producers as calves were being born. A constant barrage of rain delayed seeding and turned fields into mud. A late frost bit canola and other crops just as they were peeking out of the ground, and now flea beetles are running amok. Somehow, our farmers pushed through. They persevered. They are out there as we speak, producing the food on which the world relies. As the illegal Russian invasion of Ukraine continues, many are worried about the price and quantity of food in the year to come. Our farmers can help. Now more than ever, we need them to succeed. I salute all those men and women working around the clock doing what they do best: growing and raising the food we eat every single day.

165 words

Context: House Hansard - 93 - Jun/21/22

Mr. Dave Epp (Chatham-Kent—Leamington, CPC)

Jun/21/22 2:17:05 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, every Canadian and every human being should have access to food. On June 8, I attended the retirement of Jim Cornelius, the accomplished executive director of the Canadian Foodgrains Bank for over 24 years, five of which overlapped my time with that organization. Established in 1983, the Canadian Foodgrains Bank has a footprint that can be seen all across Canada in growing projects in farm fields. Local community groups, farmers and church groups dedicate the proceeds of a crop, which are matched by additional Canadian donors and then matched again by the federal government, to efforts to alleviate hunger. My own riding has several such growing projects in Chatham, Leamington, Wheatley, Blenheim and South Buxton, with over 220 across Canada. Collectively, we were making progress toward ending hunger, but conflicts and war have reversed those improvements. Now, with Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine, the world needs more Canadian grain, more Canadian energy and more Canadian expertise in food production. A recent U.S. president stated, “The world needs more Canada.” I agree. Our own security is enhanced when global destabilization does not happen because of global food and energy insecurity.

195 words

Context: House Hansard - 93 - Jun/21/22

Mr. Yves Perron (Berthier—Maskinongé, BQ)

Jun/21/22 2:41:58 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, last week, the Minister of Finance once again made an announcement about inflation without giving one cent to our farmers. She has been warned for months that agriculture is at risk. Inflation strikes farmers three times, not just once. The price of fuel, fertilizer and animal feed has skyrocketed and added $1.5 billion to their costs. If Ottawa does nothing, producers could go bankrupt and the price of food will continue to rise. Farmers submitted specific requests to the minister. When will she finally support them?

90 words

Context: House Hansard - 93 - Jun/21/22

Hon. Marie-Claude Bibeau (Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, Lib.)

Jun/21/22 2:42:40 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, once again, I agree with my colleague that our farmers work extremely hard and that, just like society as a whole, they are faced with very high prices right now for food, inputs and energy. That is why we are helping them in different ways. Last year, the Department of Agriculture had its largest budget ever, with $4 billion for the agricultural sector. I assure my colleague that we are working on different options to see how we can provide our farmers with more assistance.

88 words