Brenda O’Farrell
The Advocate
If Quebec farmers wondered whether the provincial government got the message conveyed by their demonstrations earlier this year – as convoys of tractors paraded along the streets of urban centres drawing the public’s attention to the growing list of issues that threaten the financial viability of agricultural producers – provincial Agriculture Minister André Lamontagne earlier this month said ‘Yes.”
Lamontagne’s response to the protests also came with an announcement of more than $200 million in help to mitigate the crisis in the farming sector.
“The economic and weather hazards of recent years have undermined the economic stability of our (farm) businesses,” Lamontagne said as he announced the measures at a press conference in Les Cèdres on June 13. “In such situations, it calls on us to show solidarity with our producers.”
Quebec will add an additional $30 million to its so-called emergency fund created last year to help farmers deal with inflationary costs, bringing the total amount of the fund to $55 million. These funds are expected to help about 3,000 agricultural businesses in the province that are considered to be in financial difficulty.
Another $37.1 million will help young producers offset the cost of increased interest rates. This measure is expected to help about 2,900 producers who have recently launched operations.
The largest infusion of cash – $106 million over five years – will come in the form of grants to help producers adapt to changes caused by climate change. The details will be outlined in the coming weeks.
Producers in the Abitibi-Témiscamingue region will also receive $1.6 million in compensation for losses suffered in 2023 due to extreme drought conditions.
Additional measures specifically targeted at market gardeners and strawberry and raspberry producers through the Agri-Relance program, which receives funds from the federal government, will also be outlined in the coming weeks.
Lamontagne also pointed to what his ministry calculates as $36.8 million in savings for farmers that will result from moves to reduce paperwork and reporting for a variety of environmental regulations imposed in the last few years.
In an interview with The Advocate after making his announcement, Lamontagne confirmed the demonstrations helped him convince his cabinet colleagues the government had to act.
“The more people raise their voices, the more they will be heard,” he added, explaining the announcements he outlined reflect the cooperation of several other ministries.
In April and May, Quebec farmers staged 17 demonstrations in all regions of the province involving an estimated 4,500 participants calling on the government to help producers. From high interest rates, to increasing fuel and fertilizer costs, severe weather events triggered by climate change to the increasing bureaucratic burden being imposed on agricultural producers by expanding environmental regulations and reporting requirements, farmers told the government they are struggling to make ends meet.
Given the extent of the demonstrations, Union des producteurs agricoles president Martin Caron, who was with Lamontagne for the announcement in Les Cèdres, was asked: Is the government’s response enough?
“Yes. It’s some big steps being taken,” Caron said in response, but then added that the UPA is still pushing for the provincial government to increase its spending for agriculture.
Caron pointed out that the provincial government still only allocates 1 per cent of its budget to the sector.
“There is an opening, and there is optimism,” Caron added.
In an interview after the announcement, Caron confirmed the demonstrations made a difference.
“It had an impact,” he said, adding that it convinced several ministries to act in consort, a breakthrough that will hopefully continue and allow for what he termed “common sense” take on a bigger role in how the government treats farmers.