Heath MacDonald

Mr. Speaker, it has been talked about in the House what is causing diesel prices to rise: the geopolitical situations we find ourselves in. It is hard, but farmers are resilient. We are starting to see some real progress in farming across this country and growth. Growing market access to Indonesia, Mexico and China is really important. We are investing $75 million in AgriMarketing and $27 million in the youth employment and skills program to help farmers hire young people. We have created the productivity superdeduction, which is extremely important to farmers in this country. We are standing alongside farmers and—

Mr. Speaker, there are a number of geopolitical issues causing most of the fuel increases around the world, particularly in Canada. There is a war in the Middle East and one in Europe, and broader supply chain disruptions. We are doing everything we can. We are reducing the excise tax. We are doing more with the groceries and essentials benefit. We will continue to advance Canadian agriculture and agri-food and make investments. I met with the Canadian Cattle Association this morning, and things are moving in the right direction for agriculture.

Mr. Speaker, we are caught in a geopolitical situation around the world. We are certainly keeping an eye on the situation. Hopefully, the peace talks are going forward for the Strait of Hormuz. We understand that there has been a real issue relevant to fertilizer. We are monitoring the situation closely. I met with my G7 partners last week. We had a good discussion. The whole topic was on fertilizer in this country and around the world. We will consider every opportunity to make sure that we stand behind our farmers.

Mr. Speaker, last week was an exciting time for processors, farmers and the Canadian public. This approach is about finding solutions at home that will improve access and affordability, with a $3.2-billion investment, the largest investment in AAFC's history. It means addressing the underlying challenges for food affordability, the way food is being sold, transported and distributed. That will support farmers, consumers and small independent grocers. A more Canadian food system means one that is more reliable and supports local food, lower costs and stronger communities. More choice means more control and more Canada.

Mr. Speaker, I think the hon. member across the way knows exactly what took place at the research station relevant to the organic growth. They are plowing the fields and working the land, as they do every other year, and they will continue to do that. Research is important in this country. We have been doing it for 140 years. We have over 17 stations that will remain open, and we will continue to grow our research in Canada.

Mr. Speaker, I have the utmost respect for my hon. colleague. We talk to each other quite often about processing in his area, mostly in and around Leamington, and there are going to be vast investments in Leamington. He knows that. There is Ideal Can, which is moving to Leamington, one of the only canning companies in the country using aluminum and steel from Canada. We are going to continue to invest in the processing sector and in agriculture. There are all kinds of companies. I am talking about Massilly North America's $85-million new food packaging processor and Agropur's plans to invest nearly $1 billion in plants in eastern Canada. We are going to continue to invest in Ontario.

Mr. Speaker, that gives me the opportunity to talk a little bit about foreign direct investment. Again, these executives are confident in Canada. Imperial Oil is investing $700 million in Strathcona; Kraft Heinz is investing $250 million in Montreal; Bayer is investing $45 million in canola research in Winnipeg; Froneri, an ice cream giant, is expanding Canadian operations; Mars Canada is investing $180 million across Ontario; and Coca-Cola is investing $141 million in a Brampton facility. They have confidence in this country and our workers. Why is it that the Conservatives do not?

Mr. Speaker, in the House today, there is a lot of rhetoric coming from the other side. Let me say that I have been travelling across the country talking to farmers. Nobody over there has been talking to farmers.

Mr. Speaker, every time I get on my feet in this House and talk about farmers, it is a good day. If that is what it takes to get a reaction over there about how important farming is in this country, then that is what we need to do, and I will do it every time.

Mr. Speaker, sometimes it would be a good question to ask some of the CEOs of these companies that are making massive investments in Canada, like Kraft Heinz investing $250 million in Montreal and Bayer investing $45 million in canola research in Winnipeg. A couple of weeks ago, I was at K+S Potash in Saskatchewan, which is investing $3 billion over 10 years. Cargill in Saskatchewan is investing $350 million in a new crushing plant, and Imperial Oil in Strathcona is investing in biofuels. Are all these CEOs of these major international and national companies making a major mistake, or do they actually believe in Canadians like we do?

Mr. Speaker, from the very beginning, I made it clear that we would work with the provinces, the territories, academia and the private sector to ensure that we have strong, effective research centres across this country. We have 17 of them across the country. We have been doing research for 140 years, and we are going to continue. We have been working with Laval. We have been working with the University of Saskatchewan. We have been working with the University of Alberta. We have been working with the governments in those provinces. We are going to continue to build research in this country because it is needed, but we are going to do research for industry, not for the opposition.

Mr. Speaker, it is always said that politics is a bit of theatre, but that was pretty good, I must admit. Let me say this. We are going to continue to build the agriculture community in this country. We know how important it is. There are going to be good-news announcements coming up very shortly in reference to research. We are working extremely hard. We are granting an exemption for the use of strychnine in Alberta and the Prairies. We are moving to change the mandates of the CFIA and the PMRA. We are adding pasture rentals to AgriStability, enhancements to the APP and new funding for AgriMarketing, and we are introducing the productivity superdeduction. We are just getting started.

Mr. Speaker, it is extremely important to talk about what we do invest in, and farmers are what we are investing in. We have invested more than $1.5 million toward initiatives that will help farmers and processors. We have the productivity superdeduction to boost productivity and encourage innovation. We also recently announced $27 million for the youth employment and skills program. These are important programs that are going to help our farmers, producers and ranchers across the country, and we will continue to support them.

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-31, A second Act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on November 4, 2025. (Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)

Mr. Speaker, it is important for generational farming, and we are fully well aware of it. It is something that, through the national policy framework with stakeholders across the country, has been brought up a couple of times. I will have further discussions with the Minister of Finance.

Mr. Speaker, it is unfortunate that the hon. member disagrees with child care, dental care, the Canada child benefit, the national school food program, the Canada groceries and essentials benefit, an increase in health transfers, the OAS, eliminating the carbon tax, a tax break for 22 million Canadians, the productivity superdeduction, investments in domestic processing for the breadbasket of Canada, an increase in AgriMarketing, and the advance payment program.