Agriculture committee  The interest-free limit for advances was raised from $100,000 to $250,000 for two years, 2022 and 2023. We're asking that the $250,000 limit be maintained for a longer period, at least for the next few years, so that we can get through the crisis. If not, the limit could simply be set at $250,000 from now on, given that our businesses are growing and because that amount should have been updated in the past few years anyway.

Agriculture committee  Supply management also guarantees price stability. During inflationary times or a health crisis, supply management allows us to control or limit price variations of products that are supply-managed, which is in the interest of Canadian consumers.

Finance committee  There are all sorts of ways to enhance support for producers, and that's surely one of them. At the Union des producteurs agricoles, we also have live labs to do tests and find information on these practices.

Finance committee  As it turns out, the exemption is fairly limited since it only covers apples and honey. Wed like to see it expanded to other local or berry products, such as maple drinks and sake. You know that in Quebec, we also produce cranberries, blueberries and maple, three businesses that could be exempted from the excise tax in addition to honey and apples.

Finance committee  As you say, there are two things. First, you need to support accreditation costs. This is already being done in United States and elsewhere. It helps limit conversion expenses for producers who want to make the transition to organic. Second, you need to make sure that Quebec maintains adequate organic standards comparable to those of our competitors.

Finance committee  Some producers certainly have concerns related to organic inputs. You mentioned grains for dairy and livestock production. I know there are also concerns about animal feed some years, especially in times of drought. So, all of that sits in the background. The higher the organic production, whether it's for inputs like grains, animal feed or others, the easier it's going to be to get inputs for our livestock production.

Finance committee  Thank you for your question. We do recognize that there has been a significant amount of money invested over the past two years or so to support agri-environmental business support. We hope there will be more to go even further, and that these funds will be permanent. When farm businesses implement agri-environmental practices, it isn't in the short term.

Agriculture committee  Actually, we at the Union des producteurs agricoles believe that all types of markets are important, from the local and regional markets to the export market. We are therefore in favour of these markets. As I mentioned earlier, regional markets have advantages, such as reducing GHGs, close customer relationships, and so on.

Agriculture committee  Those are good questions. I know some projects had regulatory constraints. There are probably funding constraints and profitability issues too. It’s case by case, and there are several elements, but regulatory issues are probably at the top of the list.

Agriculture committee  That’s a very interesting idea. Farm businesses are already spending a lot in agri-environment, and will continue to do so in the coming years. Rewarding businesses for it will give them the cash flow they need to invest elsewhere, especially in improving their efficiency, automation, etc.

Agriculture committee  We talked about special programs to maintain the financial health of businesses suffering from the rising cost of inputs. We didn’t mention it directly, but you have to keep an eye on the fertilizer tax and the availability of fertilizer in the eastern part of the country. I don’t know what needs to be done to ensure a supply, but farmers need these fertilizers to keep up their production.

Agriculture committee  We had some recommendations to that effect in our speech.

Agriculture committee  That’s what I understand, but it’s not my file. We are still in the same place.

Agriculture committee  What would help would be to abolish taxes or return the money collected to the agricultural sector, as Ms. Brekveld mentioned. That money is no longer available for producers, and increases production costs for everyone.

Agriculture committee  That is indeed our request.