Struggling with catastrophic weather events last summer and with their operating costs exploding, agricultural producers are finally receiving the help they demanded from Quebec.
The Minister of Agriculture, André Lamontagne, announced Thursday at Les Cèdres, in Montérégie, the injection of nearly $175 million into various initiatives to support producers as well as regulatory relief that will save producers nearly $37 million. .
Another sum, which Minister Lamontagne estimates at approximately 22 million, is expected from Ottawa to support market gardening and small fruit producers whose crops were devastated by major floods last summer.
We dreamed of achieving this
The economic and weather hazards of the last year have undermined the stability and sustainability of several of our businesses.
recognized the minister when announcing this aid, adding that the situation called us to stand in solidarity with our producers
.
We dreamed of achieving this today
, exclaimed alongside him the president of the Union of Agricultural Producers (UPA), Martin Caron. Its members had repeatedly expressed their dismay in recent months, taking to the road with their agricultural machinery.
After months of mobilization, advocacy and demonstrations, this outcome marks positive progress in view of the numerous economic, climatic, administrative and regulatory challenges they face.
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The president of the Union of Agricultural Producers, Martin Caron (Archive photo)
Photo: Radio-Canada / Jean-Marc Belzile
Weather, inflation and interest rates
This aid aims, on the one hand, to counter the devastating effects of the weather, which caused as many floods in southwestern Quebec as a drought in Abitibi-Témiscamingue last summer – a distinct sum of 1, 6 million dollars is also reserved specifically for this region. In total, Quebec is planning 106 million to help farmers fight against the effects of climate change and adapt to it.
On the other hand, the government is giving a financial boost to producers whose input costs have exploded on the sidelines of the pandemic and the war in Ukraine.
One of the programs also aims to protect them against the rise in interest rates which hits them hard, agriculture being an activity which requires considerable investments. To this end, the Protection Program against Rising Interest Rates has a budget of $37.1 million.
Favorite for the next generation
Quebec also announces significant administrative relief, a long-standing request from producers, and aid intended specifically for the next generation. It is known that emerging companies generally have a debt ratio that is higher than that of companies that are already well established.
recognized Minister Lamontagne.
Martin Caron also targeted this measure when asked what he liked most about this program. : it’s the next generation of farmers”,”text”:”I have a crush on something: it’s the next generation of farmers”}}”>I have a crush on something: it’s the next generation of farmers
he said.
In a general view, today’s announcement is a significant recognition of the importance [des producteurs agricoles] in the community
said the president of theUPA.
Lamontagne, there is a commitment that is made to see to this.”,”text”:”There is still work to be done, but there is an openness and an optimism that is there and we feel that in government, with the collaboration of Mr. Lamontagne, there is a commitment that is made to see to this.”}}”>There is still work to be done, but there is an openness and optimism and we feel that in government, with the collaboration of Mr. Lamontagne, there is a commitment made to see this through.
