“Farmers are always the last to receive the requested aid,” complains Yves Laurencelle, president of the UPA of the Capitale-Nationale–Côte-Nord.
During the tragic floods of May 1, 2023, around fifteen farmers saw their land ravaged by rising waters. Some have completely “lost” plots of land, says Mr. Laurencelle.
“In some places the river has gone with the land. Farmers must therefore deforest and work hard to open up new land,” he explains, before adding that there are not many arable lands in Charlevoix.
“Several dozen hectares of fields that I have cultivated for years were swept away or devastated by the river, […] we were told that we would have aid, and we are still waiting,” testifies Nicol Simard, dairy producer and president of the UPA of Charlevoix-Ouest, who estimates his losses at nearly $50,000.
In total, around twenty hectares of land were lost or damaged by the spring 2023 floods.
Mr. Laurencelle notes that the Ministry of Public Security has already compensated part of the damage suffered, but with an amount that he describes as “ridiculous”, or around $300 per hectare damaged.
The UPA maintains that it has increased its efforts with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food of Quebec (MAPAQ) in order to receive financial assistance, at “a minimum of $120,000.”
According to Mr. Laurencelle, affected producers must spend “at least $5,000 to $6,000 per lost hectare” to recover their production capacity. They expect an equivalent amount from MAPAQ.
“The sustainability of agriculture in the Charlevoix region depends on rapid and adapted responses to crisis situations like this from our government,” warns Mr. Laurencelle, who affirms that the CAQ is not “ very attentive to its farmers.”
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