Saint-Eustache, November 1st – At the close of the 59th annual general meeting of the Outaouais-Laurentides UPA Federation, held on October 26 in Saint-Eustache, producers from Laval, Montreal, the Outaouais and Laurentides regions sent out a clear message: the agricultural zone must be protected from outside pressures. Indeed, farmland is a non-renewable resource, and every parcel sold off is a parcel that cannot be used to feed future generations.
That's why delegates adopted a resolution calling on the Quebec government to ban mining exploration and development on Quebec farmland. This resolution, which carries a strong message, bears witness to the growing concerns not only of our region's producers, but also of its citizens, regarding the rise in mining claims. As a reminder, the latest data published by the Ministère des Ressources naturelles et de Forêts (MRNF) showed a 74% increase in Quebec over the last 10 years This link will open in a new window. The Gatineau Valley RCM alone has seen a 39% increase in mining claims in just 1 year. This link will open in a new window In the Hautes-Laurentides, the increase was 10% This link will open in a new window over the same period.
« Economic development must not come at the expense of farmland. A worker who hasn't eaten won't be a very productive worker. Our pantry, our farmland, not only serves us today, but must be preserved for future generations. It's a collective responsibility. », points out Stéphane Alary, President of the Outaouais-Laurentides UPA Federation.
Attended by nearly a hundred people, the meeting also saw several resolutions passed to increase support for agricultural producers. For growers, this aid must be twofold: adapt existing programs to make them more flexible to the realities on the ground and the impacts of climate change, but also to make an emergency aid program available from the end of this year, especially for the vegetable’s producers.
« For our 60th anniversary next year, we need to draw on the struggles of the past decades to propel us into the next 60 years. Agriculture is the basis of life, and we must protect its viability. » says Audrey Lemaire, new vice-president of the Outaouais-Laurentides UPA Federation.
The Annual General Meeting (AGM) is a unifying event for agricultural producers in the regions covered by the Federation. Delegates and members attending the meeting share their concerns and adopt the major orientations that will guide the Federation's decisions over the coming years. The meeting is also an opportunity to look back on the year's key events.
About Outaouais-Laurentides UPA Federation
The Outaouais-Laurentides UPA Federation is a union organization representing some 2,500 farm businesses and 4,000 agricultural producers in 11 MRCs, 3 cities (Laval, Mirabel, Gatineau) and 1 agglomeration (Montreal) in the Outaouais, Laurentians, Laval and Montreal regions, offering them professional services and support.
To view the Federation's 2022-2023 annual report, click here This link will open in a new window.
