Representatives from the five main political parties all agreed during a debate organized by the Fédération de l’UPA de la Montérégie that the agricultural sector needs better government support.
Around 60 agricultural producers attended the event, which took place at the Maison de l’UPA in Longueil on April 14. Several other viewers tuned into the debate via a livestream that was broadcast across the organization’s social media platforms.
Candidates from the different ridings within the vast Montérégie region were asked to participate. Six candidates accepted the invitation, including Simon-Pierre Savard Tremblay of the Bloc Québécois, Mélanie Bédard of the Liberal Party, Conservative Party candidate Gaétan Deschênes, Raymonde Plamondon of the New Democratic Party, and Greg De Luca of the Green Party, all of whom are running in the Saint-Hyacinthe-Bagot-Acton riding. The Conservative candidate in Châteauguay – Les Jardins-de-Napierville, David De Repentigny, also took part in the event.
“This type of meeting is essential to make the reality of our sector clearly understood by those who will represent us in the political sphere,” said the UPA’s president, Jérémie Letellier. The candidates walked away more aware of the issues facing farmers, including the low profitability of agricultural businesses, the lack of government investment in agriculture, administrative and regulatory burdens, and the challenges associated with the trade war with the United States.
The question-and-answer period following the debate lasted for nearly 90 minutes as producers expressed their concerns and tried to obtain commitments on various issues, including the maintenance of the supply management system in its entirety.
Letellier said that the debate was quite pertinent, as it provided producers with the opportunity to hear representatives from the major parties acknowledge the fundamental importance of agriculture and producers as well as the necessity of their support.
“Let’s hope that these exchanges will translate into concrete initiatives in the aftermath of the election,” concluded Letellier. (SR)