A convoy of red, green and blue tractors stormed the streets of Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu Friday morning. Around 300 farmers from Montérégie, according to the organizers, expressed their fed up with the obstacles that prevent them from having income that they consider decent.
“Agriculture is in crisis,” chanted Catherine Lefebvre, president of the Association of Market Gardeners, from a trailer converted into a stage. The final assembly point was the parking lot of the constituency office of MP Louis Lemieux, of the Coalition Avenir Québec.
The crowd consisted of farmers of all ages carrying signs with various slogans. The latter gave an overview of their numerous recriminations and demands against the provincial government: “Stop agriculture under pressure”, “Our end will be your hunger”, “Regulatory zeal, the drop too much”, “Less of 1% of the budget for agriculture, but 8 million mouths to feed” or “Improved aid for the next generation”.
This demonstration follows those which took place in Bas-Saint-Laurent, in Quebec, on the North Shore and Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean in recent weeks. “Today’s demonstration is a start! There will be them everywhere in the territory,” promised Jérémie Letellier, president of the UPA Federation of Montérégie.
The summer season was catastrophic for many market gardeners in this region, particularly due to heavy rains. “It’s the worst year we’ve had in forty years of culture. We had a decrease of between 30% and 50% in our income,” testified Martin Van Winden, from the Hotte and Van Winden farms. The latter would like the government to finance more research aimed at adapting to climate change for producers.
“On August 4, we held a press conference to say that climate change is really affecting us. Seven months later, we still have no answer to know what the government is going to do to help,” lamented Ms. Lefebvre.
Paperwork instead of fields
Many producers are against the administrative burden, the “red tape” which, according to them, prevents them from spending the necessary time in their fields.
“It’s several hours a week that are devoted to this,” reported Gabriel Leclerc, a successor at his family market garden farm. There are more and more each year: for water withdrawals, washing water management, sanitation, foreign workers. » He believes that this paperwork could be reduced. “For example, if we had financial assistance to buy water meters, that would help,” he continued.
Mr. Leclerc worries when he sees young farmers abandoning the profession. “It’s not normal that a new generation has to have two jobs to hope to make it to the end of the year,” he said.
Many farmers also object to the fact that we impose certain standards, particularly environmental ones, which do not apply to imported food. Jérémie Letellier sees a link with the discontent of European farmers. “The ambient discourse is to say that with everything that is added, we are coming more and more like in Europe,” he indicated.
Mr. Letellier denounces the State’s budgetary disengagement in agriculture. When he sees the millions of dollars granted to large companies like those in the battery sector, he does not have the impression that his sector of activity is an economic priority. This year, inflation and rising interest rates have added to the problems experienced by these entrepreneurs. “We want big projects,” he demanded.
Elected officials listening
Representatives from all parties in the National Assembly were present at the event to listen or show their support for farmers. Deputy Prime Minister Geneviève Guilbault was among them. She welcomed the movement which, according to her, imposes “a national conversation on a fundamental economic sector and identity”. She assured that in-depth work was underway to “help the agricultural industry on all fronts”. “Everything that we have received in terms of recommendations, which will probably result in bills, will allow us to simplify your life and cut through red tape,” the elected official mentioned in particular.
The farmers responded that they were eager to see concrete actions.