Tony demands emergency debate on farm bankruptcies

NEWS RELEASES

TONY MARTIN, MP

************************ Tony Martin and NDP demand action on agriculture

"Agriculture is one of the founding industries of our nation and deserves respect." – Tony Martin

OTTAWA — Today Sault MP Tony Martin submitted the third NDP request this week for an emergency debate in the House of Commons on the urgent crisis facing Canada's farm families.

"A farmer from Algoma in my riding pleaded with me to not forget the farming crisis," Martin said.

"He and his fellow farmers have to go back into the fields to work. They cannot be on Parliament Hill or involved in demonstrations to educate Canadians every day. They need to work. And they need us here as elected Members of Parliament to do something about this farming crisis.

"Higher interest rates announced this week will worsen the crisis. There have been more farm bankruptcies in the past 24 hours.

"Agriculture is one of the founding industries of our nation and deserves respect. We have a situation on our family farms that must not be ignored any longer," Martin said.

Martin said an additional $1 billion dollar above announced funding will help farmers get through this immediate crisis.

Martin's request followed the demand for an emergency debate made yesterday by NDP leader Jack Layton and Wednesday by NDP Agriculture Critic Alex Atamanenko (BC Southern Interior).

While all requests were denied, the speaker did say in the house that he hoped that the finance minister would be made aware of the NDP's appeals on behalf of Canadian farm families.

The NDP is adamant that the emergency debate take place before the budget is released on May 2nd.

********************** Statement in House of Commons

A tribute to James Loney, his family, the community of Sault Ste. Marie and peacekeepers

OTTAWA - Sault MP Tony Martin used his first formal House of Commons statement in the 39th Parliament to pay tribute to James Loney, his family, the community of Sault Ste. Marie and Christian Peacekeepers.

Here is his prepared statement:

"Mr. Speaker, the rescue of James Loney and two other hostages in Iraq ended an anxious four-month ordeal for my community of Sault Ste. Marie.

James' parents, Patrick and Claudette, rejoiced with their other children.

For 118 days, neighbours, church and other friends offered steadfast prayer and support.

Like James, the community is grateful to God, to the soldiers, government, diplomats who rescued him and to supporters who were his voice during captivity.

Typical of James, his first words of gratitude included remembering others in detention – in prison, or on security certificates, without due process.

His deepest wish is that every forsaken human being has a hand of solidarity reaching out to them.

The Christian Peacekeeper witness to non-violent peacemaking challenges the rhetoric of violence.

The world is bigger than only "us and them."

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