Mr. Speaker, the flue-cured tobacco farmers of Quebec, almost all of whom are in the Lanaudière region, are in an increasingly precarious situation. The recent decision of multinational tobacco companies to reduce their orders will cut production by more than half this year.
Many times, we have asked the federal government to help the flue-cured tobacco farmers so they can find a new livelihood, since their future does not look very bright.
Delegates at the last Bloc Quebecois convention passed a motion supporting these farmers' demand that the federal government introduce an assistance program.
Last week, representatives of the Department of Agriculture and Agri-Food met with producers. The latter were very disappointed with the outcome.
If the federal government cannot find anything under existing programs, a special assistance program must be established so that these tobacco producers in Quebec can start growing other crops as soon as possible.