FREDERIC SERRE
The Advocate

The Quebec government has set new production targets to help provincial maple syrup producers on public land to meet a growing global demand for the product, while boosting Quebec’s maple syrup industry on the world stage.

Officials with the provincial Natural Resources and Forestry Ministry held a bilateral meeting with a delegation from the Producteurs et productrices acéricoles du Québec on Nov. 15 to present a new preliminary proposal for maple syrup production targets for publicly held land.

According to the ministry, there is a need to promote optimal reconciliation of public land uses in order to meet a global demand for Quebec maple syrup and foster a dynamic, wealth-creating maple syrup industry.

“Maple syrup production is part of Quebec’s heritage and represents an important economic sector for certain regions,” said Natural Resources and Forestry Minister Maïté Blanchette Vézina. “The development of maple syrup production in public forests must be consistent across the province, while respecting all uses and maintaining conditions favorable to the exercise of the rights granted to the various users. This is a complex but important exercise, requiring the cooperation and openness of all stakeholders. I hope that we will continue our efforts to find the best possible compromises.”

According to Vézina, about 18 per cent of maple syrup production in Quebec takes place in public forests and nearly 68,000 hectares of public forest have already been allocated to maple syrup production, with more than 43,000 hectares covered by an intervention permit for the cultivation and operation for maple syrup production, and nearly 25,000 hectares having been identified as having the potential for maple syrup production.

Earlier this year, Quebec’s National Assembly proclaimed the third Sunday of October “Journée nationale de l’érable,” or National Maple Day. The first edition of this day was marked on Oct. 20.