The political war between Ottawa and Quebec City over a federal plan to end support for provincial “companion” farm programs has become one of the bitterest sideshows in the battle over the agricultural policy framework.
Federal agriculture minister Lyle Vanclief insists he cannot offer Quebec a special deal within the APF because it would offend his concept of equality and expose Canadian policy to possible trade challenges.
Quebec, which is refusing to sign the APF unless it can keep some federal funding for its provincial programs, sees it as the latest attempt by Ottawa to impose a one-size-fits-all form of federalism on the provinces. Several other provinces quietly agree.
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Last week, l’Union des Producteurs Agricoles president Laurent Pellerin joined the fray with an angry editorial published in a Quebec farm newspaper.
He accused Vanclief of using a “bulldozer approach” to push the APF onto unwilling farmers and provinces, of using misinformation to claim farmers agree with the proposals and of using the APF to create more policy centralization.
“The situation has become so heated that Ottawa would be well advised to delay by one year the April 1 implementation date and to return to the fundamental principles that guided the introduction of the APF and around which all the provinces rallied,” he wrote. “Otherwise, some would suggest, we risk again floundering in the retrograde and simplistic federalism of yesteryear.”
Quebec has the most generous provincial farm programs in the country and operates them through a central program, Financiere Agricole du Québec. Under existing programs, Ottawa’s share of provincial companion programs designed for local needs is also funneled through the FAQ.
Under the APF, Ottawa is ending support for all provincial companion programs after three years. Ontario, Prince Edward Island and several other provinces, as well as most farm groups, object.
Quebec is leading the fight.
Last week, Vanclief insisted that there must be national programs with national standards when federal dollars are involved.
“We ensure that every farmer in every province in Canada under similar circumstances is treated the same way federally for trade reasons and for equality reasons.”
He said while most provinces spend 40 cents for every 60 cents of federal spending, Quebec spends $1.60. Ottawa is asking that Quebec take 24 cents of that provincial support and invest it in risk management programs that are available nationally.
In the Commons, Bloc Québecois critic Marcel Gagnon said that would mean Quebec is lowering its farm program standards to national standards.
“Quebec (has) three years to adjust downward to match the federal department’s program, penalizing those farmers and Quebec which are ahead in terms of stabilization insurance,” he complained.
