January 13, 1956 (22nd Parliament, 3rd Session)

Mr. Diefenbaker:

There seems to be divided responsibility between the Minister of Agriculture and the Minister of Trade and Commerce. The Minister of Agriculture wants a certain kind of action and the Minister of Trade and Commerce strongly adheres, and continues to adhere, to his declarations of the past regardless of their application to the present.
The loan system that was evolved is a sham and a delusion. It is meaningless. Farmer after farmer comes to me and says, "I can borrow from the bank without that because I have the credit." Farmer after farmer is turned down by the banks in western Canada. Then, in addition to that, there is the other point that the farmers find themselves in a position of having to swallow the pill of paying interest on their earnings, paying interest on their year's work. Surely, Mr. Speaker, even at this late date the Prime Minister will give reconsideration to the declaration made yesterday by the Minister of Trade and Commerce which can be interpreted as nothing else but placing a final stamp of disapproval on farm-stored grain.

The Address-Mr. Diefenbaker
What a mess! Granaries filled and farmers unable to sell. What an example of disorganization! The Leader of the Opposition said yesterday that there was 100 million bushels of available terminal space at the head of the lakes of the Pacific coast.