Ag. minister compared to Rip Van Winkle

OTTAWA -- Conservative MP and agriculture critic Gerry Ritz told the House of Commons that although the cattle industry provides 225,000 jobs and grosses $30 billion annually, it was ignored in the throne speech.

Agriculture Minister Bob Speller replied in question period Feb. 9 that there are programs to ensure that farm families have dollars in their hands to help them through the BSE crisis. But Ritz responded that Speller kept trotting out the old platitudes. He said Speller is not pounding at the cabinet table to get attention for BSE, adding that "This guy is so laid back he makes Rip Van Winkle look like a disco dancer."

In defence of the agriculture minister, Prime Minister Paul Martin said that Speller had gone to Korea and Japan, while the agricultural industry has unanimously praised him for the job he has done.

At another point in question period, MP Rick Borotsik told the government to stop wasting money on the gun registry and start putting money into farmers’ pockets. Minister of Natural Resources, John Efford, responded that all the farmers impacted will get sufficient money. When asked when the money would get flowing, Efford said "Money is flowing through."