Mr. Speaker, on September 30, Quebec announced the winners of the Ordre du mérite agricole 1999 contest, thus giving recognition to the work of the agricultural producers, artists of the land, who have been feeding Quebec since its beginnings.
The purpose of this competition is to recognize excellence and it has long been a part of the Quebec farm scene. This was its 110th edition.
Among the winners chosen from 132 agricultural enterprises were: the Lajoie and Sons farm of Saint-Bruno, Lac Saint-Jean; the Rodrigue and Brothers farm, of Saint-Anaclet-de-Lessard; the Sim-Nord farm of Saint-Edmond-des-Plaines; the Marc-A. Turcotte farm of Val-Brillant; the Viel farm of Saint-Alexandre-de-Kamouraska; the Carol and Alain Perron farm of La Baie; the egg producers Les Oeufs d'or of Val d'Or, the nursery La Pépinière Aiken of Rouyn-Noranda and the Pétri farm of Saint-André-de-Kamouraska.
Today I would like to draw attention to the excellence and expertise of these agricultural professionals, and to wish a continued long life to the Ordre du mérite agricole competition.