t bra ing le e C e t 7 a YEARS1 c 0 0 o 2 v 6 1957- d A Vol. 37, No. 2 – February 2017 Q ’ ue rs bec Farme WHAT’S INSIDE Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Pierre Paradis page 0 dismissed over Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx page 0 sexual misconduct Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx page 0 allegations Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx page 0 Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx page 0 Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx page 0 “In the United States, the majority undertakes to supply a multitude of ready-made opinions for PASCAL RATTHÉ/ARCHIVES TCN the use of individuals, Pierre Paradis, now the former Quebec minister of agriculture, has been kicked out of the Liberal cabinet after an employee lodged a complaint against him for making “inappropriate gestures” of a sexual nature. This is the second time a member of the Couillard government has been who are thus relieved from dismissed over allegations of sexual misconduct. the necessity of forming opinions of their own.” Andrew McClelland But the reasons for Paradis’s dismissal MNA for Brome-Missisquoi suf- — Alexis de Tocqueville Advocate Staff Reporter are hardly clear. And neither has the fered a mild concussion after falling communication regarding the matter from a horse while horseback riding. The Quebec Liberal Party’s star cabi- been held in a transparent nature by the A spokesperson for Paradis, Laurence net minister, Pierre Paradis, has been Quebec Liberal Party. Lemieux, described the concussion dismissed of his duties and kicked out The investigation by the SQ into as mild. “He’s been horseback riding of cabinet after the Sûreté du Québec Paradis’s behaviour centres on “inap- for many years,” she told the Montreal QFA’s Farm Food Forums (SQ) announced that it was launching propriate gestures” of a sexual nature Gazette. “There’s no reason to worry; it’s an investigation for sexual misconduct involving an employee. On January 24, not something major.” regarding the former provincial minister the premier’s of ce received a letter from But the very next day, the SQ told a of agriculture. the alleged victim, offering details about different story, announcing that it had Thursday, February 23 Paradis, who had been the head of the complaint. Police were still looking begun an investigation into Paradis and the Ministère de l’Agriculture, des into the matter, but the premier decided had alerted the Liberal Party’s chief of “Knowing Your Cost Pêcheries et de l’Alimentation du Paradis would leave his cabinet post staff on January 19. of Production” Québec (MAPAQ) since the Philippe temporarily. Couillard government came to power, However, on January 25, Premier See page 2 for details. has been temporarily replaced by Couillard’s of ce gave a very dif- Laurent Lessard, who served as minister ferent reason for Paradis’s dis- of agriculture under Jean Charest. missal, saying that the 66-year-old CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 2 Quebec Farmers’ Advocate / February 2017 On the cover CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 forward. It wasn’t always easy, but we came to agreements together. Under the Suspicions Charest government, he remained very The investigations and dismissal come open to the concerns of the UPA.” at a trying time for relations between The Parti Québécois (PQ) raised con- the former minister of agriculture and cerns over the way the Liberals handled Quebec producers. Paradis had been announcing the truth of the situation. criticized for his perceived inaction PQ MNA Agnes Maltais said that there regarding the Programme de crédit de were “holes” in the chronology of events taxes foncières agricoles, the provincial regarding Paradis’s dismissal and how regulation that calculates the amount of much the Couillard government knew tax farmers pay on their land and farm about the allegations. buildings. Maltais criticized Couillard’s of# ce To say that the Union des producteurs for exhibiting “the opposite of transpar- agricoles (UPA) and Paradis didn’t get ency” by announcing that Paradis was along would be something of an under- leaving the cabinet for health reasons. statement. The former minister was “It is clear that the premier has not been clear in the last days. He tried to spare his minister or the government,” she The Parti Québécois (PQ) raised commented. concerns over the way the Maltais added that it “takes great Liberals handled announcing the courage” for any employee to bring alle- truth of the situation. gations of this nature against a govern- ment minister. YVES CHARLEBOIS Paradis has been temporarily replaced by Laurent Lessard, who served as minister of agriculture Disrespect towards women under Jean Charest from 2010-2011. greeted with jeers and hissing when This is the second time a member of he made an appearance at the UPA’s Couillard’s government has been dis- announced that it “concludes that no of Paradis and Sklavounos as “deplo- Annual General Meeting in Quebec City missed for allegations of sexual miscon- criminal act had been committed.” rable.” in December 2016. duct. Paquet, however, maintains that the “For me, one thing is obvious,” said UPA President Marcel Groleau greet- Gerry Sklavounos, who was elected version of events she testi# ed to are true Massé. “For a second time in your cabi- ed Lessard’s appointment to take over as a Liberal, was asked in October by and that police investigating the case net, in important positions, there are from Paradis enthusiastically, saying, the premier to sit as an independent, suggested to her that she would have to men who believe that they have latitude “When Mr. Lessard was minister of agri- following Alice Paquet’s allegations she have the alleged incidents on camera to to be able to degrade relations with culture, he was there with us on the was sexually assaulted by the MNA bring it to trial. women. It’s harassment and intimida- ground. Mr. Lessard took the time to at a restaurant where she worked as a Manon Massé, MNA for the Quebec tion. And it’s unacceptable.” listen to people and surrounded himself hostess. In that case, Quebec’s direc- Solidaire party, described the situa- Paradis has been released from hospi- with a staff that worked to move issues tor of criminal prosecutions recently tion brought about by the dismissals tal and is now recovering at home. 2 0 1 6 / 1 7 F A R M. F O O D. F O R U M. ◊ INFORMING IDEAS ◊ ENCOURAGING DISCUSSION ◊ AFFECTING THE WAY YOU DO THINGS ◊ THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2017 - Knowing Your Cost of Production THURSDAY, MARCH 30, 2017 - Sustainable Agriculture and Organic Production THURSDAY, APRIL 27, 2017 - Farm Business Advisory Services Begins at 7:30 p.m. - ends at 10:00 p.m. Connecting Community Learning Centres in Shawville, Low, Lachute, Ormstown, Magog, Richmond and Bury The Quebec Farmers’ Association – representing Quebec’s Anglophone agricultural and rural community since 1957 QFA, 555 Boul. Roland-Therrien, Longueuil, QC. J4H 4E7 450.679.0540 Ext. 8536 [email protected] www.quebecfarmers.org QFA WISHES TO THANK ITS FORUM PARTNERS FOR THEIR SUPPORT IN BRINGING YOU THE 2016/2017 SERIES Quebec Farmers’ Advocate / February 2017 3 QFA News Fair-weather friends: The Conservative Party and supply management Andrew McClelland we’ve undertaken,” said Ritz repeatedly Advocate Staff Reporter when asked if his government would sacri! ce supply-managed industries in Quebec farmers following the leadership Canada if trading partners demanded it. race for the Conservative Party might “At the same time, we have to have a be wondering what they’re looking at balanced act between the multitude of these days. What would a post-Harper commodities that are exported.” Conservative Party hold for agriculture Conservatives who have come out in Canada and in the province were it to against supply management have come to power? risked reprisal from their fellow party After all, the Conservative Party has members. Conservative MP Michael often captured the votes of Quebeckers Chong—another candidate in the lead- when it seems least likely—such as with ership race—said Bernier’s “unilateral” Brian Mulroney’s ! rst election victory move would weaken Canada’s position in 1984 and Stephen Harper’s victory in in international trade negotiations. 2006. In an interview, Chong said that in MAXIME BERNIER FROM FACEBOOK TAKEN PHOTO With a whopping 13 would-be Maxime Bernier Steven Blaney recent trade deals, Canada worked Conservative Party leaders currently alongside the agricultural sector “to vying for the top spot in the leadership quotas, which would cost anywhere When asked for reassurance regard- give up some protection in return for race, Quebec has surprisingly become a from an estimated $18-billion to $28-bil- ing Ottawa’s of! cial stance on supply major concessions from our trading key issue. lion. management, former federal minister partners.” That’s thanks to the perennially touchy “A temporary levy on these products of agriculture Gerry Ritz would be less Most Conservative Party leadership issue of supply management in agricul- would be raised to compensate farmers than resounding in his support for the candidates are holding to the party’s ture. With Quebec being a dairy strong- for the value of their quota,” said Bernier system. of! cial stance to support supply man- hold in Canada, along with being a top in an of! cial statement published in “As a federal government, we’ve agement—or they’re keeping quiet. producer of poultry and eggs, supply- the Financial Post. “After that transition shown concern for the supply manage- A leader will be chosen at a party con- managed industries are wise to wonder period, we would have a free, open and ment sector in all of the negotiations that vention on May 27. if they can rely on the Conservative fair system for all, with lower prices, Party’s support in an era when the “free innovation, and more growth in the economy” has so many governmental whole agricultural sector.” supporters worldwide.