Brenda O’Farrell
The Advocate

The Quebec government has put an immediate halt to any purchase of agricultural land by an investment fund.

The moratorium was announced Dec. 5 as Quebec Agriculture Minister André Lamontagne unveiled his long-awaited legislation to bolster the province’s protection of farmland, Bill 86.

“I am very proud to present this morning a very ambitious bill,” Lamontagne said at a press conference after tabling the legislation in the National Assembly. “This is the most important revision of the Agricultural Land Protection Act (Loi sur la protection du territoire agricole ) since its creation in 1978.”

The bill proposes a number of amendments to the farmland protection legislation already in place. These changes focus on five areas – strengthening land protections, limiting speculative purchases of land, supporting regions, simplifying the rules regulating farmland, and encouraging agri-tourism and local agriculture.

The legislation, drafted following a year-long consultation process, heads to committee this year where it will be studied. It is expected to be approved by the National Assembly in the spring.

“This important revision of the law is the result of mobilization around an inspiring social movement,” Lamontagne said in a statement. “This will result in a major breakthrough for all of Quebec, which will allow us to preserve our capacity to feed ourselves while contributing to the vitality of our communities.”

The moratorium on the sale of agricultural land imposed with the tabling of the proposed legislation will be made permanent if the bill is approved.