Quebec Agriculture Minister Ousted in PQ Minority Win

Sep 05, 2012

Liberal Ag Minister Losses by 777 Votes

It was a historic win last night - the Parti Quebecois won a slim minority with the Liberals short four seats, falling back as the official opposition. One of the Liberal Members of the National Assembly that lost their seat to the PQ wave is Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food - Pierre Corbeil from the predominantly rural riding of Abitibi-Est. He placed second in a close race to his challenger Elizabeth Larouche who won by 777 votes.

This was a surprise defeat for Corbeil who was a seasoned politician and was the Liberal MLA for Abitibi-Est since 2003 and won re-election in 2007 and 2008. The PQ Leader – Pauline Marois formed a minority government with only 54 of the 125 seats which equates to 32 per cent of the popular vote.

One of the key policies that were pledged to Quebec farmers was a food sovereignty policy that seeks to raise the share of the locally grown food in the provincial diet by 50 per cent. The PQ also pledged to kick in an extra $20 million per year into the agriculture revitalization program – to encourage young farmers to stay in the farming business.

While the PQ won its slim minority, guesses are still up in the air of who would be the most likely being the next agriculture minister. Speculations have already started that it’s between Sylvain Page from the riding of Labelle and Marie Bouille from the riding of Iberville.

Video: Winter Service Inspections for John Deere Equipment - The FarmCast Ep64

The FarmCast, host Troy Randall speaks with Doug Luedke, Vice President of Service, and Davin Peterson, Executive Vice President of Aftermarket at 21st Century Equipment, to discuss the importance of proactive service and how it helps farmers reduce downtime during their busiest seasons. The conversation focuses on the Winter Service Inspection Program, a comprehensive approach designed to keep equipment running at peak performance and limit costly in-season breakdowns through preventative maintenance and expert technician support.

Doug and Devin explain how 21st Century Equipment’s service teams have evolved to meet the needs of today’s connected machines. With more technology and data integrated into modern equipment, technicians now play a vital role in both mechanical repairs and precision ag support. Through advanced diagnostics, machine monitoring, and John Deere’s Expert Alerts, they can identify and address potential issues before they become major problems—saving customers valuable time, money, and frustration.

Throughout the discussion, the team shares real-world success stories demonstrating how proactive inspections and customer-focused service help maximize uptime and efficiency for every operation. Whether it’s a large tractor, combine, or small mower, the goal remains the same: to provide trusted, reliable support that helps farmers and landowners stay productive and confident in their equipment year-round.