Agriculture Committee on Oct. 26th, 2006

[William Van Tassel]

Well, I don't know how the laws of the Wheat Board work; if it's the law for western Canada, but—

[The Chair, Conservative, Gerry Ritz]

It is the Canadian Wheat Board.

[William Van Tassel]

Yes, it could very well be, but we looked at the way it was working there and how things work in Quebec. It's a single desk, where it goes all through our.... We don't really buy the grain; our organization sells it, but it belongs to the farmers.

Why didn't we try to join the Wheat Board? Well, heck, to tell you the truth, maybe Benoit could answer that.

[Benoit Legault, Director General, Fédération de producteurs de cultures commerciales du Québec]

We haven't thought about it, like—

[William Van Tassel]

Yes, probably it's more that.

[Benoit Legault]

We know that it's impossible. The act says that it's only a couple of provinces, but—

[The Chair, Conservative, Gerry Ritz]

It actually designates any area that can be added.

Thank you.

Mr. Bellavance, five minutes, please.

[André Bellavance, Bloc, Richmond—Arthabaska, QC]

Mr. Chairman, Quebec is a distinct society, even in the agricultural sector, but that doesn't mean that it can't work, obviously.

Mr. Van Tassel, your comparison with the priorities of the government is interesting. One of the priorities or one of the commitments of the Conservative government was to set up a mixed market for Western producers. Another was to replace the farm income stabilization program which has never been effective in your case during the past five years. Whether under the previous government or the new, you've never been able to collect the amounts provided by this program.

Today, you've come up with concrete solutions. Immediately after my election, people from your organization came to see me. Why do you think this government which claims to be new and to be acting for you is concentrating all its efforts to making changes to the Canadian Wheat Board while forgetting completely your situation?

[William Van Tassel]

We're here to try to change things and to convince the government that something has to be done to ensure the security of farm incomes. In Quebec, CAIS provides less for grain than supply management provides for milk, for example, even though the need is very high. In fact, for decreasing reference levels applicable to grain, CAIS doesn't work.

Provincial flexibility which allows to target those sectors with higher need might be much less costly for the government.

We're here today to tell you about the urgent needs of our grain producers.

[André Bellavance, Bloc, Richmond—Arthabaska, QC]

How many members are there in the Fédération des producteurs de cultures commerciales in Quebec?

[William Van Tassel]

In Quebec, there are 11,000 grain producers. We also work a lot with Ontario where there are about 28,000 producers.

[André Bellavance, Bloc, Richmond—Arthabaska, QC]

Do these people have the right to vote?

[William Van Tassel]

Normally, yes.

[André Bellavance, Bloc, Richmond—Arthabaska, QC]

You have used various means to publicize your situation in my region, Trois-Rivières, and in other regions of Quebec. You have started to spill grain in the streets and Jean-Yves has told me that you've also spilled grain in front of some federal buildings.

After using those rather dramatic pressure tactics, did you get in touch with the government? You're at the end of the rope: farmers are going bankrupt, some have to sell their equipment and land and others can't even buy groceries. Did any member of the new government try to get in touch with you to see how they could help?

[William Van Tassel]

We've met with Mr. Strahl after our first demonstration. Producers don't want to waste their grain but they're at the end of the rope. It's a way for them to try to call attention to their plight but it also demonstrates their despair. We've met with Mr. Strahl, the Minister of Agriculture and Agrifood. We've explained our position but I don't think anything came of it.

Benoit may have more to say about this.

[Benoit Legault]

For the time being, we don't have any information allowing us to believe that a program would be set up specifically for the grain sector. We continue hearing about a general program for all producers, and that's been confirmed in the press. That's what we were told at our last meeting.

The US Farm Bill is mainly aimed at the grain sector whereas in Canada we want to try and support the incomes of all producers, which is a problem. There's something wrong in this strategy which doesn't seem to change. We have the feeding that nothing moves.

[André Bellavance, Bloc, Richmond—Arthabaska, QC]

Has the minister told you directly that he won't do anything for you?

[William Van Tassel]

No, that's not what he said. At this time, this issue is not on the agenda of the federal and provincial ministers' meeting of November 13 and 14.

[André Bellavance, Bloc, Richmond—Arthabaska, QC]

The minister will be here on October 31st. You can be sure that the Bloc Quebecois will more than communicate your message, we will ask very specific questions about this issue.

Over the past five years, 11,000 producers in Quebec have not had access to income support. How is the morale of your troops? How do your people cope? If you're at the stage now where you're spilling grain in the streets, it means that it's of no value to you anymore.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gerry Ritz]

Thank you, Mr. Bellavance.

Short response.

[William Van Tassel]

We see during our meetings that the morale is very bad. At this time of year, farmers should be getting their crops in. If they take the time to demonstrate in the streets, it shows you that the problem is very serious.

Farm indebtedness has never been this high and morale has never been this low.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gerry Ritz]

Thank you, André.

Monsieur Gourde, five minutes, please.

[Jacques Gourde, Conservative, Lotbinière—Chutes-de-la-Chaudière, QC]

I have many questions and I would like to have brief answers. They are for the panel from Quebec.

At this time in Quebec, there's a double marketing system: individual and collective. The marketing of wheat for human consumption is collective whereas the marketing of other grains is individual.

Is that true?

[Benoit Legault]

Yes. The regulation applies only to wheat. Pooled marketing only applies to wheat.

[Jacques Gourde, Conservative, Lotbinière—Chutes-de-la-Chaudière, QC]

In other words, farmers can sell all their other grains, whether it be corn, barley or whatever, to any broker in Quebec or anywhere in the world?