François Legault announces an agreement in principle with Quebec farmers

After a particularly difficult summer season for Quebec farmers in 2023, Prime Minister François Legault announced this Monday that he had reached an agreement in principle with the Union of Agricultural Producers (UPA) to support these workers.

“Last summer, heavy rains caused damage for market gardeners. There will therefore be additional aid that will be given to them,” said Mr. Legault, on the sidelines of a press briefing held in Longueuil. The council of ministers will first have to approve the agreement next week, he said. More details on this will be available later.

The Prime Minister also stressed that he would come to the rescue of farmers who, during the hot season of 2023, had to face a drought in Abitibi-Témiscamingue. “This led to problems with the food given to the animals. We will add additional help [pour eux]. »

This spring, farmers took part in demonstrations across Quebec, to signal to the Legault government that “agriculture is in crisis”. “I think the producers were heard today,” François Legault argued this Monday.

The latter also said he wanted to provide assistance to the next generation in this area, by enhancing the program intended to support agricultural producers who face high interest rates.

Mr. Legault also expressed his desire to “reduce red tape” for farmers, using 14 specific measures already targeted.

The moratorium on cultivable areas – which has been imposed since 2004 in areas where the water is too polluted – will be replaced by a regulatory framework, revealed the Prime Minister. “It was a request that had been made for a very long time by the UPA. And so there will be conditions, they will not be the same depending on the situation. »

On the social network X (formerly Twitter), the general president of the UPA, Martin Caron, wrote that he had a “constructive” meeting with François Legault.

“Faced with the agricultural crisis, there is an urgent need to act to support this critical sector. We have identified possible solutions to address short-term challenges, but the work is not finished,” he said.

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