Some of the more important items affecting more than one organization for which approval is required include the following: $841.6 million in new funding dedicated to public security, combating terrorism and ensuring the economic security of Canadians in the wake of the September 11 terrorist attacks; $392 million for compensation for collective agreements; $215 million for increased funding for other international assistance, such as $100 million to the Canadian International Development Agency for humanitarian and transition assistance in Afghanistan and surrounding countries, $98.9 million to the Canadian International Development A ...[+++]gency for payments to the international multilateral institutions, and $16.1 million to the Department of Finance for payments to the International Monetary Fund's Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility; and $125 million to Environment Canada and Natural Resources Canada for grants to the Canadian Federation of Municipalities.

In addition to serving as Minister of Agriculture during a period of rapid modernization in the industry, Cy Sherwood held leadership positions in provincial and national agricultural organizations including the New Brunswick Cream Producers' Marketing Board, the Milk Producers' Association of New Brunswick, the Canadian Federation of Agriculture, and the Dairy Farmers of Canada.

On women's appointments to policy-making levels of government, the organization urges the Government of Canada to improve its present practice of mere token appointments of women, and to appoint qualified women in numbers to such offices so that the women of Canada will be adequately represented on policy-making bodies.

Mr. Preston Manning (Leader of the Opposition, Ref.): Mr. Speaker, Catherine Swift of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business is calling for a permanent end to the problems at Canada Post, and we agree.