Federal minister discusses agricultural issues in Shawville

Federal minister discusses agricultural issues in Shawville

On May 31, a group of agricultural producers gathered at the Little Red Wagon Winery in Clarendon for a discussion with Pontiac MP Sophie Chatel and Minister of National Revenue Marie-Claude Bibeau about issues facing rural communities. The majority of questions directed at Bibeau were about farming, as she previously served as the minister of agriculture from 2019 to 2023.

James Thompson, an organic vegetable farmer from MRC Papineau said that he would like to see more limits on produce imported from outside Canada, where producers may not abide by the same environmental or labour regulations as domestic producers.

In response, Bibeau was careful to highlight the difference between standards enforceable through trade regulations and certain agricultural sectors’ self-imposed standards on products.

Bibeau was also asked about the federal government’s role in interprovincial regulations when it comes to slaughtering animals. She said that they were working on several pilot projects allow for easier access to federal certification for slaughterhouses, which would allow meat to be sold across provincial borders.