In Quebec, the Union des Producteurs Agricoles is widely considered one of the province’s powerful political voices.
A quarter-century ago, the provincial government gave it union status as the official, well-funded voice of farmers. All farmers must belong and pay dues.
At times, the provincial agriculture minister has come from UPA ranks. Some provincial journalists joke that the agriculture department “is run from Longueuil,” the Montreal suburb which houses the UPA head offices. At the very least, it is assumed the premier makes sure his candidate is acceptable to UPA.
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That may have been true. It no longer appears to be.
UPA has come face to face with the iron will of premier Lucien Bouchard.
Bouchard likes Guy Julien, a rookie politician and loyalist to the premier who serves as his agriculture minister.
The farm lobby does not. It has tangled with Julien over environmental rules and many other issues, considering him weak and unsympathetic.
“He is the worst agriculture minister we have ever had,” says UPA secretary general Claude Lafleur.
Dairy farmers and pork producers have publicly called for his replacement. UPA has privately let the premier know Julien does not have farmers’ confidence.
There have been demonstrations.
One of the enduring images of the summer came in early July in Trois Rivieres, during the meeting of agriculture ministers. Outside the hotel in the rain, hundreds of Quebec dairy farmers protested, some calling for Julien’s resignation.
Inside, the minister was nowhere to be seen, although security guards hired by Quebec to keep the plebes away from the politicians made sure the hotel doors were locked lest the protest spill inside.
Afterwards, among Quebec journalists and farm lobbyists, Julien’s demise was not even a matter for debate. It would happen this summer.
“UPA wants it,” said one provincial political journalist. “It will happen.”
Last week, the cabinet was shuffled and it did not happen. At UPA headquarters, there was first surprise, then dismay.
Lafleur said it may well have been Bouchard’s way of letting the province know he does not take orders from others: “Many people said we would push him out. It could be that Mr. Bouchard did not want to be seen to be weak. It is too bad for agriculture. Mr. Julien does not have our confidence.”
Now, UPA turns its hopes to November, when another cabinet shuffle is expected.
Early next year, Bouchard is calling a “summit” of provincial farm and food industry leaders to plan a strategy for rural Quebec. UPA has told him “we need someone in cabinet very strong to lead a renewal of agriculture in Quebec, someone stronger than Julien.”
But Lafleur says the farm lobby will be wise to keep its cabinet wish list quiet and to dampen public speculation that the farm lobby has the power to make or break agriculture ministers.
Maybe that way, the proud and volatile Quebec premier will be able to replace Julien without appearing to be taking orders from Longueuil.
