Discussion · Government Orders
Jeremy Patzer Conservative
“High diesel prices are hurting small family farms the most. One farmer expects his fuel costs to go up by $50,000 next year, and he cannot pass that cost on. How does the member expect him to pay for that?”
“Mr. Speaker, the member is from the Prairies, and so am I. He knows that the backbone of the prairie economy is the family farm. Family farms tend to be a little smaller than the bigger commercial farms out there, but small family farms are probably being hit the hardest when it comes to skyrocketing diesel prices, because the margins they are operating with are very tight. One farmer talked to me about the price from last year and what he is planning for for next year, and he said he is looking at a difference of between $40,000 and $50,000 on his small family farm just in the cost of diesel for him to put the crop in the ground and get the harvest off. He has to plan ahead, and he is penciling in a difference from last year to next year of $50,000. What does the member think this farmer is going to do? He cannot pass that cost on. He has to absorb that cost. That is why we have this motion today. What does the member have to say about that?”
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A repeated line
“Farmers cannot pass that cost on.”
Said 3 times by 2 members since September 22.
Every time it was said
Mr. Speaker, the member is from the Prairies, and so am I. He knows that the backbone of the prairie economy is the family farm. Family farms tend to be a little smaller than the bigger commercial farms out there, but small family farms are probably being hit the hardest when it comes to skyrocketing diesel prices, because the margins they are operating with are very tight. One farmer talked to me about the price from last year and what he is planning for for next year, and he said he is looking at a difference of between $40,000 and $50,000 on his small family farm just in the cost of diesel for him to put the crop in the ground and get the harvest off. He has to plan ahead, and he is penciling in a difference from last year to next year of $50,000. What does the member think this farmer is going to do? He cannot pass that cost on. He has to absorb that cost. That is why we have this motion today. What does the member have to say about that?