UPA continues to call for compensations

Pierre-Yvon Bégin

Farmers will not receive compensation for losses incurred by the presence of snowmobile and all-terrain vehicle (ATV) trails on their property. Bill 9, modifying the law concerning off-road vehicles, has no provision in this regard. At best, the Minister delegated to Transport, Julie Boulet, says that she has taken note of the request of the Union des producteurs agricoles (UPA), but without opening her wallet. “There must be provision for damages to farmers,” repeated Denis Bilodeau, 2 ^nd vice-president of the UPA, appearing before the Parliamentary Commission last week. He explained that snowmobile and ATV trails inevitably cause damage to crops, and often cause machinery breakage. He pointed out that farmers want to be reasonable, but in return, to receive recognition for their contribution to this industry.

“In an approach of good-neighborliness,” he said to La Terre de chez nous, “there should be compensation for the right-of-way that we give—at least a free trail pass. When you are invited to a friend’s place, you bring a bottle of wine.”

Incidentally, the UPA has been granted better representation on future regional committees, which will have the mandate of determining the location of the regional trails. In addition to the agricultural representative, a representative for private landowners will be added.

“The guarantee of success lies with the regional committees,” stresses Denis Bilodeau. “That is where the negotiations will take place. We will not accept the use of expropriation or the permanence of the trails.”

The UPA, on the other hand, is very pleased with the immunity granted to farmers who give permission for a right-of-way on their farms. In the case of regional trails, however, this immunity is hotly contested by certain other groups, such as the Protecteur du Citoyen, the Barreau du Québec and the Commission des droits de la personne et les droits de la jeunesse. Even the Fédération québecoise des municipalités is questioning the prohibition on lawsuits for the next five years. “If all the provisions of the Bill are implemented, I believe that class actions will not be possible,” noted Raymonde Saint-Germain, the provincial ombudsman.

EDITORIAL: The Table filière — renewed momentum

Laurent Pellerin

It was about time things were set back in motion. And last Monday, it happened. The agri-food Table filière got underway after much too long a break.

The parties had stopped talking together—they had no occasion to do so. The agri-food sector was suffering from a lack of coordination between the various links in the chain. Here was a good reason to motivate us to renew our efforts, with an approach that has always stimulated the vitality and the capacity of our industry to adapt. Qualities that have been recognized both here and across the country.

By coming himself to preside over the reactivation of work, the Premier sent a clear and positive signal, that his government recognizes an important role for the agri-food sector in our economy. Straight away, he presented a well-informed diagnosis, showing that he had a very good understanding of the situation, followed by an acknowledgement of his leadership role in the agri-food “partnership”. He also offered to be an ally for the industry in our dealings with the federal authorities. This augurs well. The support of the Premier is indispensable to help “orchestrate” the players to work together, whether to reconcile economic interests or the expectations of our fellow-citizens.

Nobody can deny that the agri-food sector is going through an extremely difficult period, of the likes that has rarely been seen in the past, to tell the truth. “It’s coming from all directions,” commented the Minister of Agriculture recently, and to whom we owe the initiative of having reconvened the Table. He is right. Farmers are facing an income crisis, which is persistent and extremely difficult on certain fronts. Processors must deal with foreign competition, the consolidation of food distribution, the currency exchange rate, etc… Rules are made at the international level where we have little control. Add to this, requirements of all sorts: environment, product quality, food safety, labeling, etc. The list is long!

The fact that the Table was “suspended” for so long may explain why it is now faced with considerable challenges and sizeable issues. It’s a tall order—we must admit it. But it is specifically in this sort of situation that, in the past, was born the mobilizing visions that allowed our sector to surpass itself. In this regard, last Monday’s meeting set the tone with the Premier in the lead. Although the Table had not met for a long while, with each player entrenched in his own affairs, the willingness to reconnect and work together towards common goals was very apparent. There clearly emerged the need for a new impetus.

So much the better. Quebec’s agri-food sector must be able to count on its allies. It can never more solid or stronger than when working in partnership. Our great successes in Quebec have been built on the four great pillars of our agri-food industry, which have helped to shape agricultural syndicalism, cooperation, the private sector and government. Together, we took on the challenge of food self-sufficiency; together we set our sights on market development; together, we set a new course for environmental protection. And together, we will emerge stronger from this period of turbulence that is presently shaking our industry.

For the UPA—satisfaction, mixed with worry about taxation

Jean-Charles Gagné

The Union des producteurs agricoles (UPA) is largely satisfied with the new taxation policy for farm operators, which should be in place by 2007. One worry remains however—the willingness of municipalities to implement a separate tax rate for agricultural properties in order to end the transfer of the tax burden to farmers, which was the initial purpose of the reform package.

“The displacement of the tax burden on farmers constitutes the heart of the agreement and the National Assembly must approve this omnibus bill presented by the Ministère des Affaires municipales, giving the municipalities the latitude to establish a tax rate distinct from that of residential properties,” declared Denis Bilodeau, 2 ^nd vice-president of the UPA, before the Parliamentary Commission on Agriculture last Friday. “Quebec,” he continued, “must also rapidly create a surveillance committee to verify if municipalities follow up on this option.”

Worried

According to the opposition critic, Maxime Arseneau, the bill does not provide sufficient guarantees to deliver the goods. “You are leaving the issue of displacing the tax burden in the hands of municipalities and a surveillance committee which is not enshrined in law and which is non-decisional,” he stated to Bilodeau. “What municipality is going to accept to deprive themselves of tax revenues if they are not compensated by something else? The danger is that it ends up as credit cuts to farmers.” Bill 24 provides that in the case of a budget overrun, the farmers would see a reduction in their rebate.

The UPA expects that the increase in the cost of the program will remain within “the limits set by the government” because of the stability in the price of land and the new cost-sharing formula for police services ( Sureté du Québec), which will bring the municipal participation down to 50 per cent of the total bill. Bilodeau conceded that the increase in the cost of the program could exceed budget predictions but “it is not up to farmers to assume these costs”. Marlène Thiboutot, the UPA coordinator noted “the agreement signed last December provides for the government to adopt additional measures if the objectives of eliminating the increases and the displacement of the tax burden of farmers is not achieved.” The agreement has received the approval of the cabinet.

Adjustments

The UPA has asked for some latitude for farmers who rent land, in order to give them time to review the terms of their leases. Apparently, the rent charged to farmers often takes into account the tax rebates the farmer would receive. With the new system, the tax credits will go to the owner of the farmland. The UPA has asked that MAPAQ grant this credit only if there is a formal agreement between the farmer and the owner. The UPA has also repeated its request to eliminate the criteria in the program requiring $8 in revenue per $100 evaluation. MAPAQ had reduced this rate to $6 in 2005 in order to permit about 300 farmers to qualify. The Quebec Minister of Agriculture, Yvon Vallières, has proposed to re-instate this measure.

He was delighted to “respect his party’s electoral promise concerning the taxation of farm enterprises during this first mandate, an issue which has been discussed since he first entered the political scene.” In addition to farmers, the municipalities will also benefit from the system, “because at this time next year, they will have received $100 million at the beginning of their financial year,” he explained.

Trees to link economy and ecology together

Thierry Larivière

“We must link economy and ecology together,” declared Jacques Languirand, a spokesperson for the Jour de la Terre (Earth Day), at the planting of 150 trees to promote both the Earth Day and the Sommet des arbres, on May 25, south of Montreal.

Languirand, who has hosted the Radio-Canada program Par 4 chemins for the past 30 years, confirmed that he has come to the conclusion that linking economy and ecology closer together is “essential.” “It takes more than just people who will criticize, but also people like you who will become part of the solution,” he added. “The UPA must absolutely be involved,” insisted the radio host and philosopher.

This reflection was then put into practice through the symbolic gesture of Jacques Languirand and Laurent Pellerin, president of the UPA, by planting a tree together.

“Farmers are people who love to plant and they have been waiting now for 15 days,” exclaimed Laurent Pellerin, while rain continued to delay planting. Pellerin noted that farmers were “willing volunteers in these activities for the protection and development of the environment.” In fact, farmers are front line victims of climate change with the recent rains that caused more flooding than the spring run-off. Farmers across the province will plant at least 2,500 trees and municipal officials an additional 7500, for a total of 10 000, which represents the number of participants in attendance at the United Nations Conference on climate change in Montreal. In the spirit of the Kyoto accord, the aim was to capture as much carbon by the trees as emitted by the participants at that international conference in 2005. It is noteworthy to mention that the Alcoa aluminum refinery made this plantation possible, in conjunction with the Sommet des arbres.

Bernard Vincent, vice-president of the Saint-Jean-Valleyfield UPA, confirmed that the Agence forestière de la Montérégie would be assigning a forestry specialist, for the first time, to advise producers on the improvement of their farm woodlots. Jean-Francois Riendeau participated, in fact, in an inventory of woodlots in his own MRC, which revealed that the forestry cover represents 17 per cent and not 11 per cent of the territory. Woodlots in this MRC, south of Quebec City, contain no less than 56 ecosystems of exceptional quality.

The advantages of trees

Trees bring several advantages to any ecosystem. The eventual harvesting of the wood is, without a doubt, a long-term benefit. The Fédération de l’UPA de St-Jean-Valleyfield went much further by producing a chart showing the numerous advantages of trees: protection of the soil against erosion, increased comfort for cattle, increased yields of between five and 12 per cent in crops protected by trees, the embellishment of the landscape, greater biodiversity (game, wild fruit, etc.), more beneficial wildlife that eat insects and a reduction in harmful wildlife, a decrease in greenhouse gases, a 10 to 15 per cent reduction in energy costs during winter and 50 to 70 per cent in summer, a reduction of dust in the order of 27 to 38 per cent and the reduction of odours of between 20 and 25 per cent, depending on the location of the hedgerow as compared to the odour source. All of these are good reasons to plant trees, which farmers are not hesitant to do.

Are mailboxes on the road to extinction?

Julie Mercier

Should country dwellers begin mourning the loss of their mailboxes?

In many rural areas, the regular mailboxes are being replaced by community mailboxes. “In the medium and long term, the distribution of mail in rural areas could change,” confirmed Catherine Lortie, spokesperson for Canada Post. The reason for the change? The increase in the number of refusals by postal workers to deliver the mail where they deem their route to be dangerous. Injuries caused by bending to place the mail in the boxes also cause headaches for Canada Post.

Since November 2005, rural carriers have invoked 279 rights of refusal, with a little over 50 from Quebec. “We validate every case. Except for rare exceptions, the refusals are well founded. Instead of interrupting service, Canada Post favors mail pick-up at the post office or the installation of community mail boxes”, explained Lortie. The rights of refusal usually concern routes having speed limits in excess of 70 km/hr and where the road shoulder is not sufficiently wide.

In Fredericton, New Brunswick, the elimination of individual delivery has not been received without an outcry. Some citizens must travel up to 40km to pick up their mail, according to the local Member of Parliament, liberal Andy Scott. In Quebec, the problems seem to be centered in the area surrounding Montreal, particularly in the Vaudreuil-Dorion region. In this municipality, since last Monday, citizens living on Saint-Ferréol Street must go directly to the post office. “Two or three weeks ago, Canada Post agents came by to measure the distances between houses,” confirmed Eddy Proulx, the president of the Fédération de l’UPA de Saint-Jean-Valleyfield, who resides in the municipality of Des Cèdres. In Cap-Santé, in the Quebec City region, Canada Post has decided to install community boxes for the addresses identified as problematic.

Drastic solution

The Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) estimates that between 20 and 30 per cent of the 800,000 mailboxes in the country are dangerous. “We tell our members to exercise their right of refusal properly. The employer is taking advantage of the situation by trying to reduce service to the population. For us, the objective is to ensure that the service remains as close as possible to the clients. Home delivery is our first choice,” declared Denis Lemelin, 2 ^nd vice-president of the CUPW. “People criticize letter carriers, but the problems existed before the existence of the union,” he remarked. Rural letter carriers have been unionized since 2004. Before that, they were considered as independent contractors. Many of them hesitated to complain, for fear of losing their job. With the proliferation of community mailboxes, are these letter carriers not justly worried about the risk of losing their job? Normand Simoneau, who delivers mail in Saint-Ferdinand is worried. “It is going to cause job losses,” fears this worker whose 120-mailbox route has not suffered any changes. But Canada Post is reassuring. “There have been no job losses,” points out Catherine Lortie.

The UPA rebuilds bridges with municipalities

Pierre-Yvon Begin

The Union des producteurs agricoles (UPA) has rebuilt bridges with the Fédération québecoise des municipalités (FQM). According to UPA President Laurent Pellerin, agricultural and municipal leaders have a common need to share their views, particularly concerning the new rules governing hog production and the consultation meetings.

“If your federation was to propose the abolition of these consultation meetings, we might want to think about it—but not for long,” joked Laurent Pellerin, who was speaking at an assembly of mayors and prefects of the province’s Municipalités régionales de comté (MRC). Last Thursday, the new president of the FQM, Bernard Généreux, invited Laurent Pellerin to speak on agricultural issues. In return, Généreux will be invited to a meeting of the general council of the UPA, thus initiating a new era of exchange between the two organizations.

“There are 4000 pig operations,” indicated Laurent Pellerin “and over the next 20 years, they will all have to be replaced. It will take 200 permits per year and 35 public meetings. This production is going down the drain. It has become intolerable!”

The mayor of Rougemont and prefect for the MRC de Rouville, Susie Dubois, gave further weight to these arguments when relating her experience in Sainte-Adele-de-Monnoir. Acting as president of a public consultation meeting, she held the meeting without the presence of the representative from La Santé publique, as is required by law. La Santé publique considered that the safety of their employees was not sufficiently protected. The result—The MRC de Rouville finds itself in the middle of a local imbroglio that is only beginning.

“We want the consultation meetings to be abolished,” declared Susie Dubois. “The problem is that the opponents come out to put hog production on trial. These meetings do not favor conciliation—they start war. Good-bye harmony!”

Tax rebates

The question of the Tax Rebate Program was also brought up by the mayors and prefects. Questioned on the subject, Laurent Pellerin explained that farmers were fed up with being seen as profiteers of the system. “We pay too much for taxes,” he summarized. “It makes no sense that an agricultural building is taxed at the same rate as a residence.”

By all appearances, the mayors and prefects have not accepted the recent compromise solution. They fear they will take the flak for the new method of tax rebates instigated by the Minister of Agriculture. The explanation given by Ministry representatives did not seem to settle their fears either. The assurance that the money would be received by April 30 at the latest—as long as the computer system did not crash—did not work towards calming their nerves.

“The government took too long to reimburse the farmers. Now it will be the municipalities that are penalized,” declared mayor Paulette Lalande, who received loud applause.

Wind power: “It’s total anarchy.”

Thierry Larivière

The development of wind power in Quebec is creating more and more controversy across the province.

“It is total anarchy,” declared Claude Guimond, president of the Fédération de l’UPA du Bas-Saint-Laurent, who cannot believe the lack of planning that is prevalent in wind power development. The UPA federation president cited the new transmission line to carry electricity soon to be produced in Eastern Quebec to the principal markets as one of the worst examples. “You have to be ready for anything,” stated Guimond, who cannot understand why this transmission line, from Matane to Rimouski, was not foreseen when tenders were being called. He hopes that this new branch line will follow the same path as the existing lines, but Hydro-Quebec is favoring a path through agricultural land.

“We were successful in alerting producers to the benefits of collective negotiations,” remarks Claude Guimond, noting that farmers are grouping together more and more—as was the case in Saint-Pierre de Broughton. “The gains are unbelievable. They are now paying $7,000 to $8,000 or more per year for each windmill,” declared the president. New rental contracts now usually include a fixed payment plus a profit-sharing formula. Nothing will be signed below $3,000 per year for a windmill producing 1.5 Megawatts (MW), which represents twice as much per MW as the first contracts.

The case of Baie-des-sables, in the Gaspé region is equally enlightening. “The farmers were being treated like slaves,” exclaimed Jean-Louis Chaumel, wind power specialist with the Université du Québec à Rimouski (UQAR). He explained that a “historic revolt” enabled a group of farmers of this region to re-open their contracts and modify several clauses. The contracts signed at that location contained an automatic renewal clause after 25 years. They also prevented any kind of construction on the lots in question and no provision was made for dismantling the windmills. Disassembly of windmills is not negligible as the immense cranes, which are wider than four pick-up trucks, are used and roads must support their weight while in use. Chaumel believes that it is also in the interest of the developers to clarify all of these aspects. “If it is not done now, in the future we could be facing critical documentary films in the style of Richard Desjardins, denouncing the situation,” points out the UQAR specialist. Another important point to foresee is the payment of the fees as soon as the foundations are in place.

An additional unpredicted effect stemming from the installation of windmills is the decrease in the price of wood. The necessary tree removal for roads and windmill sites is threatening to cause a surplus of wood above quota, which could cause prices to fall. “These things keep popping up as we go along!” exclaimed Claude Guimond.

Zoning for windmills

Municipals officials are also beginning to respond by passing interim control regulations (RCI) in an attempt to discipline developers seen to be too much in a hurry. The RCI of the MRC Brome-Missisquoi prohibits the installation of windmills on 90 per cent of its territory, while that of the MRC de Rivière-du-loup attempts to relocate windmills away from roadways and towards the back of the lots. This measure does not sit well with developers such as Skypower, who must defend their projects before the public hearings of the BAPE. The adding of longer roads and the considerable increase in the price of windmills could adversely affect the profitability of a project. New RCI’s are also being prepared that would divide the territory into two parts—the most remote areas would be reserved for large projects and nearby zones would be earmarked for community projects. However, these community or cooperative projects may never get off the ground, according to the Val-EO Cooperative in the Saguenay region, which makes the point that Hydro-Quebec is requiring credit ratings and financial guarantees generally available only to the big industry players.

Internet sites and model contracts

The UPA and UQAR will soon set up an internet site ( www.eolien.org ) to attempt to answer questions concerning windmill contracts. “We must address the problem of lack of information,” insists Chaumel. It is important to note also that the UPA legal department is in the process of preparing a model contract to help farmers in their negotiations.

“Our joint plans are necessary more than ever,” says wood producers’ president

Pierre-Yvon Bégin

Various wood-producer syndicates firmly oppose any modification to their joint marketing plans. Last week in Quebec City, they took advantage of the federation’s annual general meeting to show their disapproval of the decision of the minister of Ressources Naturelles et de la Faune, Pierre Corbeil, to review the marketing plan for wood from private woodlots.

“Even if they are 50 years old, our joint plans are necessary more than ever,” declared the president of the federation, Pierre-Maurice Gagnon. Speaking before the delegates, he described the recent meeting of the partners of the private woodlot sector, which was generally positive but which finished “on a very sad note.”

He attributed the minister’s decision to the intense lobby of the Regroupement des societés d’aménagement (RESAM).

“What is particularly disappointing,” exclaimed Pierre-Maurice Gagnon, “is that RESAM’s demands have all the appearances of a pretext for the government and industry to use them for other purposes.”

The delegates unanimously adopted a resolution calling upon the Ministers of Natural Resources and Agriculture, Pierre Corbeil and Yvon Vallières, to oppose the removal of the forestry sector from the Loi sur la mise en marché des produits agricoles and forestiers (law for the marketing of agricultural and forestry products). They also demanded that Minister Corbeil do a complete analysis of the criteria of the Programme de mise en valeur des forêts privées (program for developing private woodlots) and the cutting-rights and fees in public forests.

“I don’t have any preconceptions, and for now I basically wish to better understand the situation and its major issues,” assured Minister Corbeil, trying to downplay the problem. While expressing hope that forestry workers would continue to work hard to find solutions to the “problematics arising from the current marketing mechanisms,” he underlined that he has mandated his civil servants to produce a report on the subject by March 31, 2007.

Minister Corbeil also confirmed that the budget for the Programmes de mise en valeur des resources en milieu forestier has been approved for the current year. A budget allowance of $34 million has been allotted.

Resolutions

The delegates also adopted a resolution concerning land taxation. Wood producers believe that the increasing land values will jeopardize wood production from private woodlots. They wish to benefit from a variable tax rate, modeled after the one recently obtained by the agricultural producers in relation to the Programme de remboursement de taxes (tax reimbursement program). Incidentally, the delegates requested that the minister of Natural Resources modify his own tax reimbursement program, which they find too complicated and insufficiently indexed.

The delegates also invited the Minister to be vigilant concerning the “residual principle”, which is supposed to favour private woodlots before granting cutting rights in public forests.

On the subject of off-road vehicles, the delegates asked that the bill currently being studied recognize that the granting of rights-of-way is on a voluntary basis. They also wish for the creation of an indemnity fund and rental payments so they may benefit from the spin-offs of this industry. Finally, the wood producers desire that the commercialization of ground hemlock (eastern yew) from public forests be transacted through the joint plans.

The president of the federation urged both the new and former officers of the Syndicat des propriétaires forestiers du sud-ouest du Québec to combine their efforts in order to resume the management of their joint plan, which had been entrusted to a private administrator last year. The syndicate finds itself with six new administrators, following the block resignation of its board of directors at the recent annual meeting.

Pierre-Maurice Gagnon also invited the Syndicates of the Côte-du Sud, Gatineau and Sud-Ouest regions to join the ranks of the federation. .

The head of the WTO puts pressure on Canada

Thierry Larivière

The top official of the World Trade Organization (WTO), Pascal Lamy, publicly requested that Canada give some slack concerning its supply management and the Canadian Wheat Board, in order to help arrive at an agreement before the end of June.

“[In order to reap the benefits], Canada must pay, by agreeing to increase its imports and by reorganizing its state monopolies,” declared Pascal Lamy, who was in Montreal for the 12t ^h Montreal Conference on June 5. He spoke specifically of agriculture and described the concessions that have to be made by the various partners in order to advance the notorious Doha cycle.

Lamy also hoped that the United States and the European Union would agree to lower their rising agriculture subsidies and that the emerging nations would lower their tariffs on industrial products.

If nothing moves, it will be a failure. It should be noted that the U.S. “fast track” comes to an end on July 1, 2007 and the President must submit the trade agreement proposal 90 days ahead. Considering the delays for editing and the necessity to elaborate on questions like culture, services and anti-dumping, there is no time to lose. Also, elections in the American Congress risk complicating the situation and limiting the possibilities of major concessions in the Farm Bill, which Lamy deems essential for arriving at an agreement.

Diplomatic negotiations are still intense in Geneva and the end-of-June delay is being taken seriously.

According to the head of the WTO, international agreements permit an international sharing of work, which is beneficial to consumers and should also apply to agriculture. He admits that the “external pressures” specific to agriculture, such as food safety and the environment, are brought to the forefront by many parties to justify exceptional treatment. These two visions oppose each other and Lamy proposes a compromise based on a “theoretical truce”. It will require considerable decreases to the agriculture support mechanisms that cause market distortions and greater access to markets, while also tempering this opening for certain categories of sensitive products. This is the general architecture that will lead to a “final compromise,” but for which concessions are still needed.

Meeting with UPA

Pascal Lamy met with leaders of the Union des producteurs agricoles (UPA) for about two hours while attending the Montreal Conference. “Canada is not such a major player in this,” commented Laurent Pellerin, president of the UPA, following the meeting. “[Lamy’s] greatest frustration is the Americans, who will not budge.” Pellerin does not believe that making concessions on supply management or on the Canadian Wheat board (CWB) would really change the global position. A major reduction in grain subsidies by the Americans, for example, would have much more impact. It is highly unlikely, for example, that developing countries would benefit from an opening to deliver milk to Canada. “I don’t see any place where we can make potential gains, but there are risks everywhere,” concluded Laurent Pellerin, who does not believe that an agreement can be beneficial to Canadian agriculture. His conviction is based, in particular, on the lack of any willingness by the Americans to reduce their subsidies. It should be noted that a meeting is scheduled this week between UPA representatives and Crawford Falconer, president of the agricultural negotiation committee.

Successful achievements for private woodlots

Pierre-Yvon Bégin

Car drivers and tourists who are traveling in the Bas-Saint-Laurent region over the next several months will notice the presence of new road signs. Stakeholders involved in private woodlots are presently installing 11 public information signs along the major arteries in order to favorably influence the public. The slogan “C’est dans nos cordes” (Let’s strike a good cord) is the centerpiece of this original campaign.

This project is one of several achievements by the private woodlot sector, which were presented at the annual meeting of the Fédération des producteurs de bois. These achievements then became the topics of discussion for workshop groups. In the case of Bas-Saint-Laurent, the project also includes a component to help aspiring wood producers, as well as a regional investment fund of one million dollars to support 2 ^nd and 3 ^rd level transformation.

In the Quebec City region, the local Syndicate presented a pilot project on inventory management and the transport of wood aided by computer. In this case, the truckers use a satellite locating system (GPS) to locate the piles of wood.

In the Abitibi-Temiscamingue region, the Syndicate set up an accreditation system for private woodlot owners. Those who consent to abide by certain rules profited from a 15 per cent higher price, or $3 more per metric tone. The Syndicate is aiming at $4 this year and $5 next year.

In the Eastern Townships, the Syndicate is working on an accreditation system for forestry contractors. As a result of this endeavor, the accredited contractors do not run out of work.

In the Mauricie and in the Beauce regions, the Syndicates explained their efforts to aid in the transfer of knowledge and training. In the Beauce project, the training courses showed a 26 per cent increase in participation in 2005. This can be explained by courses that are better adapted to the real needs and also offered without cost in the majority of cases.