Agriculture Committee on Jan. 29th, 2019

[Heather Watson]

Yes. I am definitely a supporter of national initiatives. I think it really depends on what the initiative looks like. I would say that perhaps, instead of launching a national program, we start with a national conversation. I'm thinking of what Andria Jones-Bitton was talking about in striking up.... Can we start a round table? Can we have a national engagement session where we get folks together who are interested in this, figure out who's doing what and then figure out the critical path forward? I would, I think, hazard a guess to say it would be really nice to establish some sort of round table or some sort of place where we can come together on a regular basis, all of us stakeholders, and share what's going on so that we can reduce duplication and maximize our resources, which as you've noted, are very slim. We want to be very strategic about how we go forward. We don't want this to be a one-hit wonder. We want to make sure we create the capacity to sustain and grow these activities.

[The Chair, Liberal, Pat Finnigan]

Thank you, Ms. Watson.

Thank you, Mr. Berthold.

Mrs. Shanahan, you have the floor for six minutes.

[Brenda Shanahan, Liberal, Châteauguay—Lacolle, QC]

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.

First, I would like to thank all the witnesses who are here today. I am fortunate to have in my constituency a good number of the region's farmers and they have taught me a lot about agriculture.

Also, Mr. Poissant, who is my neighbour, has taught me that it's a very rewarding, but also challenging, life. I even found a point of reference. Since I was a former banker and I had a lot of experience working with entrepreneurs, succession problems are that reference point for me.

I'll continue in English, so I can ask my question of the gentleman from Farm Credit.

Mr. Hoffort, I'd like to ask you about how you came to observe financial management practices that were contributing to stress and to mental health issues. What is your definition of those practices? Was it because it's a sort of father-to-son intergenerational difference? I'd like you to just talk to me a little bit about that, and then I'd like to address the same question to Ms. Watson, who is doing the research project.

[Michael Hoffort]

In terms of the relationship between farm management practices, risk management practices and mental health on farms, there is some interest in doing some research in that space. I don't know if FCC would have an opinion on whether there is a strong link between them. That would be some of the basis for the research that would be done by Farm Management Canada, perhaps, in the years ahead.

Speaking more broadly in terms of succession and succession management, and in looking at farm transitions, there's a business function that takes place, for sure, and there's a family dynamic function. There are always going to be some complexities to that. As well, the sheer capital required for Canadian farms today and the value of those farms make those transitions complex. It's something that happens over years, and even a decade, versus maybe something that happened as an event in years past.

I would suggest that there can be some stress in those, even if they're done well. If they're not done particularly well, from a communications perspective, the stress can even be more. Those would be the more anecdotal observations that I've made over my career at FCC.

[Brenda Shanahan, Liberal, Châteauguay—Lacolle, QC]

What brought you to the place where you thought that? I see that Farm Credit is looking at partnering with Ms. Watson's group on the study. Was that really the overriding factor, the farm management practices, the financial practices?

[Michael Hoffort]

Really, it's just trying to dig in and to understand what some of the underlying factors are that may contribute to different levels of stress on an operation. If we can find some of those, what might be areas that then operators or business partners like FCC could encourage to take place in those operations, that could manage some of the stress that could be dealt with? When you think of a farm, whether it's weather, markets or all those things that are inherently external factors, are there internal things that our operators could do that would contribute to being able to manage through just the day-to-day nature of being a Canadian producer? It's super-rewarding and it's a challenging career choice.

[Brenda Shanahan, Liberal, Châteauguay—Lacolle, QC]

Very good.

Ms. Watson, I know your study has not begun yet, but I'd like to continue the line of questioning Mr. Poissant started. That is on the use of consultants or accounting or financial experts, whether it would be a conseil or a firm that would specialize in this kind of work. I would venture that it's very particular to the farming industry how financial management practices evolve and how they are passed on given the particular circumstances of family succession.

[Heather Watson]

Yes, absolutely.

To answer your question right away, we know that a third of farmers are using business advisers for their farms, and we're hoping to increase that number. Our anecdotal little piece to our farmers is to “do your best and hire the rest”, recognizing that farmers can't be all things to all people at all times. It's very, very stressful for them to take the weight of the world onto their shoulders.

We want to look at not only how we can equip farmers with the practices and tools and whatnot to help increase positive mental health but also how we can equip the advisers and those positioned to help—kind of the front-line folks—to help farmers. Knowing that farmers traditionally go to their accountants and their lawyers for help first, we also want to look at what other players are out there who can play a positive role in helping the mental health piece—

[The Chair, Liberal, Pat Finnigan]

Thank you, Ms. Watson. Sorry, I seem to cut you off all the time. You're the last one to speak, but—

[Heather Watson]

It's nothing personal. It's okay. I have lots to say.

[The Chair, Liberal, Pat Finnigan]

We'll have Mr. Shipley for six minutes.

[Bev Shipley, Lambton—Kent—Middlesex, CPC]

Thank you very much.

[The Chair, Liberal, Pat Finnigan]

Sorry, I mean five minutes.

[Bev Shipley]

I'm actually on the committee.

[Voices]

Oh, oh!

[Bev Shipley]

I want to say thank you. I know that my colleague, Mr. Dreeshen, really did the job in recognizing and acknowledging some of the issues and the need to recognize individuals. Thank you and your organization for what you do for children—it used to be for those up to 12 years old, and now I think it's from five up to 18.

[Erin Smith]

It's six.

[Bev Shipley]

Oh, okay, six.

At 18, they're pretty much wrapped up and heading for post-secondary education. By then that 51% who are rural likely have some contact with farming. What are they telling you in terms of the concerns about agriculture and the opportunities moving forward, and balancing those against what they're hearing at home, in terms of some of the stresses, or from their family or friends?

[Erin Smith]

I might throw Liz some of this too.

First of all, 51% of the youth whom we surveyed are interested in pursuing a career in agriculture. Of those, over 80% live in rural communities, so they may or may not live on the farm.

[Bev Shipley]

Okay.

[Erin Smith]

What we are hearing overwhelmingly is that young people are looking for support in exploring career opportunities that are out there, and exploring a broad range of careers that affect the agriculture sector—science, technology, the environment. That's one of the roles we're playing, in terms of connecting them to information, to mentorship, to career internships and placements to explore some of those opportunities.

[Bev Shipley]

Okay.

[Erin Smith]

I would say, from what I'm hearing from youth—and we don't get a lot of specifics—is that there is definitely stress about whether or not to take over the family farm and to look at agriculture more broadly. That decision and the impact it has on families is often stressful, I would say.

[Bev Shipley]

Okay.

[Erin Smith]

But in general, our youth are telling us that they want to explore career opportunities.