Agriculture committee  With regard to biofuel, we take the following position. It would be very good to have a policy in this regard, but it must not replace agricultural policy. This distinction must be drawn. If biofuel production is aimed at decreasing greenhouse gas emissions in order to reach the

Agriculture committee  Currently, the cost of interest for farms, in terms of the percentage of expenses, is about the same as when the interest rates were around 8 to 12%. Normally, they should only be half that much, but because of the increase in debt, the amount of money paid for interest has remai

Agriculture committee  In Quebec, we have Farm Credit Canada, as well as La Financière agricole du Québec. They had implemented several programs to help transferring farms to the new generation. We must strive for a more integrated strategy. Funding can be of some help. However, the transfer should no

Agriculture committee  Our organization favours the creation of a disaster relief program. The current discussions on CAIS would have CAIS apply first, with all its flaws, and then a disaster relief program. Things can't work that way. Mr. Bilodeau gave the example of potato producers and horticultura

Agriculture committee  The next agricultural policy needs to be developed in conjunction with the farm organizations. If that had been done the first time, the policy would meet producers' needs. We have an opportunity now to get it right, and we need to seize it because this policy will be in effect f

Agriculture committee  Good afternoon. I will make a general presentation like the one that Mr. Bilodeau made. You have copies of the document in French and in English; you will certainly have the opportunity to read them. First, I want to thank you for inviting us. The first phase has to do with food