Thank you, Mr. Chairman, committee members. I have two subjects to present to you: new productions and the environment.
Let's start with new productions. New food habits are making it possible to develop, in some of our regions, new types of production that respond to these new markets. For some people, they represent an opportunity to set up in agriculture and to develop a business that develops the agricultural potential of the community.
As a general rule, the people who invest in these businesses are left to their own devices. They are continually coping with the under-financing of their businesses. Available knowledge is limited and not very accessible, and technical support is virtually non-existent.
Furthermore, when we want to market these processed or unprocessed products, we come up against a restriction by the food chains, but especially against unfair competition from imported products which do not meet the same rules as are imposed on us, be they environmental, phytosanitary or concerning food safety.
The South Shore region currently has many centres of expertise such as the biofood incubator, the CDBQ, which can therefore provide a major contribution to agricultural producers. However, all the centres have to remain in the forefront and must therefore be supported financially by the various levels of government.
Lastly, if consumers were better informed of all the food safety rules to which agricultural producers and processors are subject, they would choose Canadian food products more often. To that, we can add all the favourable impacts caused by an information campaign on the economic importance of buying here at home.
To do this, the Fédération de l'UPA de la Côte-du-Sud has developed a trademark in recent years: it distributes bags to people identifying local purchases. We usually give them out, but, in view of the major financial crisis we're currently going through, we are pleased to sell them these days. Those interested should know that, in view of our financial situation, we sell them for $5.
Consequently, the Fédération de l'UPA de la Côte-du-Sud asks the Canadian government: to recognize the importance of new and emerging productions and products that rely on development of the resources of the community; to make resources and research and development equipment accessible to support certain farm businesses that must design or adapt production techniques; to maintain and even increase its support so that research and development organizations can remain dynamic in their region, such as the CDBQ, CQEPP and the Centre d'expertise en production porcine; to support the creation of a centre of expertise for cattle; to maintain funding and support for food monitoring and quality control management agencies and HACCP standards—CFIA, Agri-Traçabilité Québec, specialized federations for putting quality assurance programs in place—to exercise better customs control in order to prevent any clandestine introduction of agricultural and agri-food products; to require that all imported food products meet the same standards as those set for Canadian and Quebec producers.
Now let's talk about the environment. You're not unaware that the Province of Quebec has extremely strict environmental regulations for the agricultural sector. Producers must invest significant sums in order to meet these new requirements. Agricultural development in our regions is currently being slowed and, in many cases, that is as a result of these new regulations and various pressures. For example, in hog production, Quebec, which was a world leader in the early 1990s and was cited as an example, has today virtually become an object of ridicule. That's proof that things have changed over the years.
We expect the federal government to invest to more in research, development and the introduction of technology in the environmental field. We need new technologies in the treatment, storage and application of solid and liquid manure.
For some years now, certain soil cultivation activities have been considered harmful to the environment. The usual culprits include manure and liquid manure applications, and more particularly hog production. Hog production, which was at the origin of the first Portrait agroenvironnemental des fermes du Québec in 1987, is singled out today. The fact that hog production is criticized has led all producers to ask themselves the question: which type of production will be considered as a culprit next?
Before it's too late, it's important that we all work together to provide accurate information on the mode of operation and framework governing agriculture.
Who has the obligation to make these adjustments requested for certain methods used in agricultural production? Who will pay the cost to protect this collective asset which is the environment? Is it agricultural producers alone?
In Quebec, a lot of money has been invested for land analysis. For example, consider orthophotographs. An image came to mind earlier: in watching a James Bond film in which a satellite takes a picture of the Earth, you can see someone tanning on a building or committing a theft. The same thing exists in agriculture. With this data, we have an overview of a plot of land. We can see how the drainage works and how crops and buffer strips are behaving. We need to shed light on these tools and study them in greater depth. We can't do that alone.
Producers have done these things in recent years in order to distinguish themselves and become models for other regions. These sums have been invested in order to protect the environment and ensure it survives. Government authorities have an obligation to take the history of Quebec's agriculture into account and to ensure that the policies that are implemented will make it possible to maintain and develop this sector.
Consequently, the Fédération de l'UPA de la Côte-du-Sud asks the Canadian government: to increase its budgets for research and development and for support for the introduction of new technologies; to use the necessary means to ensure that standards for the import of agricultural products to Canada are as strict as those currently in effect in the country, mainly with regard to the environment; to increase and ensure the long-term funding of the Conseil pour le développement de l'agriculture du Québec, the CDAQ; to provide financial support for the implementation of the strategic agri-environmental plans of the Fédération de l'UPA de la Côte-du-Sud; to provide refundable tax credits for all investments in work performed by agricultural producers to preserve the environment; to provide financial support for the development of new environmental protection analysis methods such as LIDAR, which I talked about briefly earlier; to extend the Greencover Canada Program, to provide financial support to agricultural producers in their development and environmental work.
The development of our rural community is a major concern for our producers. Agriculture and agri-food definitely remain important links. That is why the federal government must take concrete action in the above areas of activity.
In conclusion, with your permission, we would like to present to you the vision for the future of the South Shore's farmers, the result of the thinking of those producers in 1986. The declaration reads as follows:
We farmers of the South Shore declare that there is a future for agriculture in our region and that we are proud and passionate in carrying on our occupation. We hope it is known, recognized and valued for its primary purpose, which is to feed the population here and elsewhere. In our agriculture, all types of production of all sizes of business will have their place to the extent they meet sustainable development criteria, that is criteria for a form of development that is economically viable, environmentally friendly and socially acceptable.
We undertake to contribute to the land use and development of our region through the development of agriculture. Our future depends on the vitality of the people who live from our industry and who wish to get involved in it for their own good and that of their communities. We want the population to appreciate and be proud, as we are, of the quality and diversity of the products of our agriculture. We will make every effort to ensure that listening, dialogue and mutual respect among producers in the community are central to development—
We want to share this vision with our government partners, training institutions, local and regional, agricultural and urban communities as well as the agri-food industry.
We hope this presentation will enable the members of your committee to gain a clearer understanding of the specific issues in agriculture and thus to promote the renewal of the Agricultural Policy Framework in a manner consistent with the needs and expectations of the agricultural producers of the South Shore.
Thank you for your attention.