Committees of the House  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to be able to speak to this motion in the House of Commons. I would like to begin by reiterating the words of the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, who has emphasized the firm and unflagging support of the present government for supply management.

Leucan  Mr. Speaker, on Sunday, June 11, the head office of Leucan in Montreal and nine regional committees simultaneously held the third provincial head shaving challenge. The event was an unprecedented success. In total, 4,700 people had their heads shaved, raising a record $2,200,000.

Canadian Wheat Board  Mr. Speaker, our election platform was very clear. We will accept what is fairly and freely decided for all Canadian farmers.

Supply Management  Mr. Speaker, this government stood alone against 148 other countries to defend supply management, and we will continue to do so vigorously. We cannot discuss our negotiation tactics and strategies publicly on a daily basis. However, one thing is clear: Canada must stay at the negotiating table because it is in the best interest of our entire agricultural sector, including supply managed and export sectors.

Supply Management  Mr. Speaker, I am extremely happy to answer that question. Our government is determined to defend the interests of all Canadian producers, without exception. We have a long-term vision for agriculture. Under the Conservative government, Canadian agriculture will be world-renowned for its leadership.

Supply Management  Mr. Speaker, Canada will remain actively involved in the negotiations to ensure that we are in a position to propose an agreement that is in the best interest of Canadian agriculture, not to capitulate to some other proposal.

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—