Ag’s place in the Bloc Québécois election platform

Aug 23, 2021

The party promises to protect supply management and increase livestock processing capacity

By Diego Flammini
Staff Writer
Farms.com

With election day in Canada less than a month away, Farms.com is going through the platforms of the five parties with elected Members of Parliament (Liberals, Conservatives, NDP, Green Party and Bloc Quebecois) to discover what each party has in store for the ag sector and rural Canada.

Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet and his party are looking to continue the momentum gained in the 2019 federal election when the Bloc won 22 additional seats for a total of 32 representatives in Ottawa.

Blanchet unveiled the party’s platform in Saint-Hyacinthe, Que. on Sunday.

Because the document is in French, Farms.com used a program to translate parts of the platform.

In terms of agriculture, the Bloc “will reintroduce a bill to fully protect supply management in future trade agreements,” the translated document says. The Bloc also promises to ensure farmers are compensated for Canada’s concessions in trade deals.

The party commits to study increasing livestock processing capacity and to “recognize the multifunctionality of farmers in its financial support to recognize the contribution of small producers.”

The Bloc wants to ban the use of a crop protection product.

The use of neonicotinoids mustn’t continue, the party says.

“We must seek to eliminate pesticides of the neonicotinoid family and not to increase its use,” the Bloc’s platform says.

Instead, the party is calling for investments of up to $300 million to “search for an alternative solution and in support (of) agricultural producers during the transition.”

The party also is also proposing the labeling of GMOs, and a traceability plan from the federal government to help consumers track seafood and fight illegal fishing.

The platform also addresses climate change.

The Bloc is proposing an equalization program to reward provinces for taking measures to fight climate change.

Farms.com has also covered the NDP, Conservative, Liberal and Green platforms.

Video: A Farm Song (Busy) | Parody of A Bar Song (Tipsy) by Shaboozey

Lyrics:

My days begin with workin’, Alarm’s at 5 o’clock,
I Fill 5 gallon buckets, The feeders and the troughs,
This five to nine ain’t workin’, why the heck do I work so hard?,
I can’t worry ‘bout health problems, I can sleep in when I’m gone,

One, here comes the two to the three to the four,
Tell em’ ‘buy another cow, we need plenty more’,
Blue jeans are gettin’ dirty, what else could I ask for,
Oh my, more chores

Someone pour me up another shot of sweet tea,
They know me and working hard’s got a history,
There’s another flock of sheep that still needs feed,
Everybody on the farm gettin’ busy,

Everybody on the farm gettin’ busy,
Everybody on the farm gettin’ busy,

I’ve been working pretty stressed but,
I ain’t changing for some cash,
Lord knows that I’m very blessed (More chores),
But I gotta say it’s hard,
Workin’ outside gettin’ charred,
Living out here on the farm, (more chores)

One, here comes the two to the three to the four,
Tell em’ ‘buy another cow, we need plenty more’,
Blue jeans are gettin’ dirty, what else could I ask for,
Oh my, more chores

Someone pour me up another shot of sweet tea,
They know me and working hard’s got a history
There’s another 20 chickens that still need feed,
Everybody on the farm gettin’ busy,

Everybody on the farm getting’ busy,
Everybody on the farm gettin’ busy,

Fun, here on ranch that’s what you can’t ignore,
Might be pretty hard but I love it to its core,
Flannel’s gettin’ dirty, what else could I ask for,
Oh my, more chores (Tell ‘em sing with me)

Someone pour me up another shot of sweet tea,
They know me and working hard’s got a history,
There’s another flock of sheep that still needs feed,
Everybody on the farm gettin’ busy,
Someone pour me up another shot of sweet tea,
They know me and working hard’s got a history,
Watching cattle in the dark, don’t miss me,
Everybody on the farm gettin’ busy,
(Yeeeeeehaw)
Everybody on the farm gettin’ busy,
Everybody on the farm gettin’ busy,
It’s the best bro, go get yourself a farm