Agriculture Committee on Sept. 27th, 2018

[Alistair MacGregor, NDP, Cowichan—Malahat—Langford, BC]

For my next question, I want to open it up to everyone, because I think it's very important to get testimony in.

When you look at the jurisdictions that we have in agriculture, both the federal government and provincial governments have a role to play. At first glance, the noticeable strength of the federal government is that because it covers the entire country, it can stop the effect of a patchwork quilt and ensure there is some kind of continuity amongst all jurisdictions.

I'd like to have your feedback on some of the strengths of what the federal government can offer in this field. Also, on a practical level, how do we ensure that these types of programs are actually reaching farmers effectively? As has been stated, they work very long hours alone. What are some of the practical ways that we effectively reach them and let them know that there is a support network available?

Who would like to start?

[Martin Caron]

Thank you for the question.

All things considered, we must ensure that the programs are well adapted to farmers. There must be a federal and provincial network. It's not enough to invest in programs. The programs must also be adapted to the real risks.

Risk management is having an increasingly significant impact on climate, economic and political issues. We're currently seeing this in politics concerning the NAFTA negotiations. There's a great deal of stress in farm businesses, and the programs must be adapted accordingly.

In terms of mental health, our recommendation is in line with Ms. Jones-Bitton's recommendation concerning research and investment. An investment isn't an expense. We must invest and establish a national round table to discuss mental health, in which organizations such as ours would participate, to ensure that the services meet the needs of farmers.

[Dr. Andria Jones-Bitton]

I think what my colleagues have discussed has been very important. I think it's really important, and the way to get farmers involved is through participatory action research. You have them at the table at the beginning, and you develop your priorities with farmers at the table because, otherwise, you're right that you're not going to get there.

Our farmers said that they're not coming in for two days. We already have a great program that's two days. We asked how many hours would be good for them. Now we have a four-hour version and an eight-hour version.

You bring the farmers around the table. They're there. They're ready to speak. It's just that nobody has bothered to ask them.

Absolutely, as Monsieur Caron has said, we need custom, tailored approaches.

Our colleagues in Manitoba have a rural call-in line. The first two questions they are asked by farmers when they call in are, “Is this confidential?“ and, “Are you a farmer?”

Too many people have built up the courage, in their words, to go and seek help, and then they get told something like, “You need to go home and take two weeks off.” They don't come back. We lose them at that point because people don't understand agriculture.

[Alistair MacGregor, NDP, Cowichan—Malahat—Langford, BC]

Monsieur d'Amours, do you have anything to add?

[Alain d'Amours]

Yes.

The federal government should elevate the image of agriculture and emphasize the importance of farmers. The public has a negative image of farmers, which causes farmers a great deal of distress. The federal government could elevate the image of farmers across Canada and show that farmers are there to help the public and that, without them, there would be nothing to eat. It's that simple. However, the public doesn't have this notion at all. The public doesn't understand why farmers are different. Farmers are different because it's their environment, it's their life. They're different for many reasons. That's what should be done.

[The Chair, Liberal, Pat Finnigan]

Thank you.

We'll now give the floor to Mr. Breton for six minutes.

[Pierre Breton, Liberal, Shefford, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I want to thank everyone for being here today. We know how serious this issue has become. It's a concern at home, in the constituency of Shefford.

Mr. d'Amours, you live in an area next to my constituency. Thank you for being here today.

My first question is for Mr. Caron.

You're the son and grandson of a farmer. We haven't conducted a study on the subject, but perhaps studies have been conducted in the past. What has changed? Did you witness any distress that your grandfather, grandparents or father may have experienced? What has evolved? Are things better or worse? What changes have brought us to where we are today? Give us some insight.

[Martin Caron]

First, before I became a vice-president of the UPA, I was a dairy and grain farmer at home, in Louiseville, in the Mauricie region. I'm really a man of the land.

I had contact with people. I was one of the first to take sentinel training to be able to identify mental and psychological health issues and other issues. A network was quickly established around me. I've seen farmers, veterinarians, inseminators and people involved in the field do tremendous work.

One change is that agriculture has become global. I'll give you two very concrete examples. First, grain prices are set by the Chicago Stock Exchange. They're not set at the local level. Second, tariffs are imposed on pork producers, which has a major impact on the price of pork. There's a shortfall of about 50%.

[Pierre Breton, Liberal, Shefford, QC]

You said there's a global impact, and that before, the market was more local.

[Martin Caron]

Exactly.

[Pierre Breton, Liberal, Shefford, QC]

That's an important point.

Mr. Girard, you've worked in agriculture for a long time, and today you're a consultant. I imagine that you work with farmers. What about young people in all this? Many young people who come to see me are in distress. They don't come to see me because they're in distress, but they talk to me about their distress. I refer them to someone who can help them.

Tell me a bit about the situation of young people. Are things worse for this segment of the population than for older people? Is the stress experienced by young people different from the stress experienced by the previous generation? Tell us about it.

[Pierre-Nicolas Girard]

Obviously, certain young people who aspire to take over from their parents are increasingly reluctant to do so, given the image of the occupation.

I would like to add a few comments to your first question.

[Pierre Breton, Liberal, Shefford, QC]

That's fine.

[Pierre-Nicolas Girard]

The industrialization of agriculture makes a difference. I was born on a farm and I worked on the farm. In those days, we worked 12 hours a day, we slept, and the next day we were in great shape. Today, with all the means of communication available, farmers are connected to their farms for 24 hours a day. In many cases, they can no longer take weekends off because they're needed at their business. This reality causes stress.

There's the economic aspect. I've met many farmers in their sixties who want to transfer their businesses, but their businesses are worth two million, three million or four million dollars. The property has increased in value and the business's profitability does not allow for this type of investment. I agree with the people who said that the federal government, for example, had a role to play through its measures and programs.

I'll give the example of the federal government's initiative—

[Pierre Breton, Liberal, Shefford, QC]

Be brief, Mr. Girard, because I want to ask Mr. d'Amours a question.

[Pierre-Nicolas Girard]

Okay, go ahead.

[Pierre Breton, Liberal, Shefford, QC]

No, continue. I'll give you a few more seconds.

[Pierre-Nicolas Girard]

We created agri-environment investment programs. This has helped us change our approach to agriculture and take greater account of the environment over the past 10 years. I suggest that we do the same thing for the health of farmers.

[Pierre Breton, Liberal, Shefford, QC]

That's interesting.

Thank you, Mr. Girard.

Mr. d'Amours, you drew my attention to an interesting point, which is the image of farmers. I don't know whether this relates to the recognition farmers may receive. Farmers are their own bosses. I don't think that they have any other bosses. They're self-employed. I've noticed during meetings and visits to farms that no one tells farmers that they're doing a good job, except for the people who say that the food produced by the farmers is fresh and who show interest in purchasing the food. I imagine there's the issue of educating the public.

Tell us about this major lack of recognition of farmers.

[Alain d'Amours]

The issue of public recognition goes even further. I'll give you a basic example. When I go grocery shopping with my son, he has no idea where the vegetable we're purchasing comes from. Yet I live in the country.

[Pierre Breton, Liberal, Shefford, QC]

It grows in the grocery store.

[Alain d'Amours]

Exactly. It grows in the grocery store and milk enters the world in the grocery store.

Among farmers, there's also the parent-child relationship. A father came to see me. His son wanted to expand the farm and use new technology. However, the father told me that he couldn't handle this and that, as a result, they were falling behind. The father even started contemplating suicide. He thought that, if he left, his son would take over the entire place. Even this image—

[The Chair, Liberal, Pat Finnigan]

Thank you, Mr. d'Amours. I'm sorry to interrupt you, but you may be able to continue later.

[Pierre Breton, Liberal, Shefford, QC]

He didn't finish his story, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Pat Finnigan]

I'm sure he'll have the chance to finish it.

Mr. Hehr and Mr. Cooper, thank you for being here with us this morning.

Now, Mr. Longfield, you have six minutes.