K.C. Jordan, LJI Journalist
The Pontiac syndicate of the Union des producteurs agricoles (UPA) had a lively debate about increasing union dues before it could officially begin its 2025 annual general assembly on Mar. 27.
The meeting’s start was delayed by about 40 minutes while attendees voiced their concerns about union dues, which, according to Clarendon producer Ron Hodgins, this year resulted in less money being returned to the local syndicate.
“What I see happening, especially in the last three years, is the federation and the confederation are downloading a lot more expenses to us at this level, and yet we are only paid 7.23 per cent of the dues,” he said.
Hodgins said the local syndicate used to host more events for local producers, which aren’t always possible anymore due to lack of money.
“We used to have farm safety days at Ralph Lang’s, but we’re not doing that anymore. We’re not doing the things we used to do. It’s like we almost fell into a stagnant hole.”
Allumette Island hops producer Charles Allard also questioned the amount he pays annually to the union, adding he would like to see more union employees working for local farmers.
“How much of that percentage stays in the Pontiac?” he demanded of UPA Outaouais-Laurentides president Stéphane Alary, who was in attendance to address concerns.
“Our farm is spending over a thousand dollars a year in costs for the UPA, and I’m not seeing it,” he said in an interview after the meeting.
Alary said the money pays union employees that work in farmers’ interests at the provincial level, lobbying governments and working with various governmental departments.
“All the money you put in there is being managed as well as possible,” he said. “Twenty-eight million, it’s not much to fight for 40,000 people farming.”
Alary said he understands the concerns about increasing costs, adding that the UPA is always looking to increase efficiency, even if that means cutting jobs from the administration council. “We are trying to be [as] efficient as we can,” he said.
“I’m not saying you’re doing a bad job,” rebutted Allard. “You’re in the sausage factory, so you see how it’s made. We don’t know how the hot dogs are made [ . . . ] I don’t know why the farmers have to be starving all the time.”
“I think we’ve got an organization that is really transparent,” responded Alary. “It’s okay to ask questions. I think we have to work together.”
Claude Vallière, who was re-elected as president of the Pontiac syndicate at the meeting, said in a French interview after the meeting that he understands where Allard and Hodgins are coming from, but wants the attitude to remain positive.
“The UPA is an organization that is there to defend the interests of all producers, whether they are members or not. So of course the money is possibly not spent in each union as the people might want,” he said.
“That doesn’t mean the money that the producers or the region [give] doesn’t contribute to the region. It’s more like a collective contribution to defend the interests of the producers. So I think a lot of people don’t understand that aspect.”
When the discussion was finished, the conversation turned toward the election of the local syndicate’s representative for the 2025 year. Allard nominated himself to represent the western sector, but was not allowed to stand as a candidate because he was not a registered member of the union.
Members re-elect president, vice-presidents
Members voted on their executive board for the coming year, re-electing five of the six available positions.
Scott Judd was re-elected for the eastern sector, which spans the municipalities of Bristol, Portage du Fort and Shawville. David Gillespie was re-elected for the western sector, which includes Waltham and all municipalities west of it, while Andrew Graveline was re-elected for the centre-west sector, which spans five municipalities starting in Litchfield and ending in Mansfield.
The position of animal or vegetable producer administrator was filled once again by Ursina Studhalter, while Morgan Lance was re-elected to fill the proximity farm position. Shauna McKenna was elected for the first time as agricultural administrator.
Finally, members re-elected Mansfield producer Claude Vallière as president, as well as Justin O’Brien and Gema Villavicencio as vice-presidents.
Vallière, who is also on the board of the co-op working to get the Shawville abattoir back on its feet, said he was pleased to be re-elected, and said one of the union’s greatest successes this year was being able to make progress on re-opening the abattoir.
“It’s about being able to bring together producers and try to set up the abattoir and provide a service to the community,” he said, adding that they are still waiting on equipment to arrive as well as hire a general manager.
“To get technicians to come, to put it in motion, to find the parts, it takes a while before everything can be done,” he said, noting the co-op does not yet have an opening date.
He said the Quebec budget for agriculture, announced on Mar. 24, has decreased, which will affect the amount of money available in government programs for local producers in the coming year.
“We are asking for it to be increased, but I imagine with the current economic situation, with all the tariffs, they have decided to be careful,” he said.
Vallière said he is unsure exactly how the tariff situation, including China’s tariffs on grain, will affect local producers.