FOR IMMEDIATE DIFFUSION PRESS RELEASE CRISIS Of the ESB: The NEW
FEDERAL PROGRAM COVERS ONLY 15 % OF the NEEDS FOR the PRODUCERS OF
BOVINES OF QUEBEC Longueuil, September 10, 2004 - "the producers of
Quebec appreciate the commitment of the new Canadian Minister for
agriculture to redouble efforts to make accelerate the process of
reopening of the borders to the cattle and the Canadian beef and veal.
They also greet the measurements put of before making just like
increase the capacity of demolition to the country the series of means
designed to develop new markets of export. However, they are extremely
disappointed transitional measures announced to come to them to
assistance "It is in these terms that reacted Mr. Michel
Dessureault, president of the Federation of the producers of
bovines of Quebec (FPBQ), Mr. Marcel Groleau, president of the
Federation of the producers of milk of Quebec and Mr. Laurent
Pellerin, president of the Union of the agricultural producers
(UPA), with the advertisement made today by the minister of
Agriculture and Agroalimentaire Canada, Mr. Andy Mitchell, of
his strategy to reposition the Canadian industry of the livestock. Of
entry of play, Mr. Dessureault specified that announced help is
insufficient and at all does not fill the needs for the producers of
beef animals and the dairy producers "In the new national strategy,
one does not find any direct help to compensate for the fall of price
of the bovines, nor no programme of free loans; two measurements which
are however essential and which were very awaited producers of Quebec
", it made a point of specifying. Mr. Groleau increases by adding
that "the dairy producers, who were compensated only for approximately
30 % of their losses to date, will not receive that crumbs in direct
compensation with the new advertisement" the president does not see
anything either in this advertisement which corrects the abuses the
intermediaries: "the selling price of the bovines has undergone a
major fall for 16 month without the consumers not seeing the color and
the government of it does not act" it denounced. - 2 - The two
federations concerned and the UPA evaluate the needs for the
Québécois producers to more than 141 million dollars whereas with the
announced transitional measures, Quebec should receive only between 15
and 20 million dollars, which represents less than 15 % of the needs
for the Québécois producers. Moreover, it is estimated that the
programmes of withdrawal (put side) of bouvillons and of calves of
fattening are likely to be not easily applicable to Quebec, and even
elsewhere in Canada. As for the assistance granted to the control program of the old
animals, it seems to us definitely insufficient to achieve the pursued
goals. Lastly, it is surprising to note that only measurement
announced to cure the problems of liquidities of the producers rises
from an already existing federal program, the PCSRA. Commenting on
new announced measurements, the president of the UPA, Mr. Laurent
Pellerin, presses the Mitchell minister to revise his strategy
to quickly inject new money in the bovine farms which are, recall it,
at the edge of the financial pit after 16 month of crisis "I
understand badly that last year, whereas Ottawa and Quebec poured some
150 million dollars to support the Québécois bovine production, that
one intervenes this time also modestly. However, nothing changed, the
situation of the producers is always also difficult "added, Mr.
Pellerin. Same breath, it adds that it is as important as the
Mitchell minister makes safe industry by developing an effective
strategy being based on a long-term horizon. The producers invite
Quebec now to benefit from the flexibility expresses of which Ottawa
seems to make proof. They thus enjoignent the Minister for
Agriculture, Mrs. Francoise Gauthier, to intensify his representations
near its federal counterpart so that the program is really adapted to
the characteristics of Quebec and that it is with the height of the
needs for the producers. Let us recall that the discovery of a case of
ESB in Alberta, May 20, 2003, involved the immediate closing of the
borders to export and carried out the bovine sector in a crisis
without precedent. Still today, the embargo affects 60 % of the bovine
products and results in a fall of price varying from 30 Ã .70.%,
according to the category of bovines. Affiliated with the Union of the
agricultural producers, the Federation of the producers of bovines of
Quebec gathers 24 300 calf and ox producers established in all the
areas of Quebec. Third more important production livestock in Quebec,
bovine industry generates annual sales of more than 600 million
dollars and markets some 800 000 bovines annually. The Federation
represents the five sectors of bovine production, that is to say those
of calves of fattening, of bouvillons of demolition, calves of
grain, milk calves as well as bovines of reform and dairy calves. - 30
- Information: Denise Audet Agente of communication Federation
of the producers of bovines of Quebec Tel.: (450) 679-0540, item 8354
Éliane Hamel Adviser, Public affairs Union of the agricultural
producers Tel.: (450) 679-0540, item 8591 Frederic Krikorian
Adviser public relations and governmental Federation of the milk
producers of Quebec Tel.. (450) 679-0530, item 8704
FEDERAL PROGRAM COVERS ONLY 15 % OF the NEEDS FOR the PRODUCERS OF
BOVINES OF QUEBEC Longueuil, September 10, 2004 - "the producers of
Quebec appreciate the commitment of the new Canadian Minister for
agriculture to redouble efforts to make accelerate the process of
reopening of the borders to the cattle and the Canadian beef and veal.
They also greet the measurements put of before making just like
increase the capacity of demolition to the country the series of means
designed to develop new markets of export. However, they are extremely
disappointed transitional measures announced to come to them to
assistance "It is in these terms that reacted Mr. Michel
Dessureault, president of the Federation of the producers of
bovines of Quebec (FPBQ), Mr. Marcel Groleau, president of the
Federation of the producers of milk of Quebec and Mr. Laurent
Pellerin, president of the Union of the agricultural producers
(UPA), with the advertisement made today by the minister of
Agriculture and Agroalimentaire Canada, Mr. Andy Mitchell, of
his strategy to reposition the Canadian industry of the livestock. Of
entry of play, Mr. Dessureault specified that announced help is
insufficient and at all does not fill the needs for the producers of
beef animals and the dairy producers "In the new national strategy,
one does not find any direct help to compensate for the fall of price
of the bovines, nor no programme of free loans; two measurements which
are however essential and which were very awaited producers of Quebec
", it made a point of specifying. Mr. Groleau increases by adding
that "the dairy producers, who were compensated only for approximately
30 % of their losses to date, will not receive that crumbs in direct
compensation with the new advertisement" the president does not see
anything either in this advertisement which corrects the abuses the
intermediaries: "the selling price of the bovines has undergone a
major fall for 16 month without the consumers not seeing the color and
the government of it does not act" it denounced. - 2 - The two
federations concerned and the UPA evaluate the needs for the
Québécois producers to more than 141 million dollars whereas with the
announced transitional measures, Quebec should receive only between 15
and 20 million dollars, which represents less than 15 % of the needs
for the Québécois producers. Moreover, it is estimated that the
programmes of withdrawal (put side) of bouvillons and of calves of
fattening are likely to be not easily applicable to Quebec, and even
elsewhere in Canada. As for the assistance granted to the control program of the old
animals, it seems to us definitely insufficient to achieve the pursued
goals. Lastly, it is surprising to note that only measurement
announced to cure the problems of liquidities of the producers rises
from an already existing federal program, the PCSRA. Commenting on
new announced measurements, the president of the UPA, Mr. Laurent
Pellerin, presses the Mitchell minister to revise his strategy
to quickly inject new money in the bovine farms which are, recall it,
at the edge of the financial pit after 16 month of crisis "I
understand badly that last year, whereas Ottawa and Quebec poured some
150 million dollars to support the Québécois bovine production, that
one intervenes this time also modestly. However, nothing changed, the
situation of the producers is always also difficult "added, Mr.
Pellerin. Same breath, it adds that it is as important as the
Mitchell minister makes safe industry by developing an effective
strategy being based on a long-term horizon. The producers invite
Quebec now to benefit from the flexibility expresses of which Ottawa
seems to make proof. They thus enjoignent the Minister for
Agriculture, Mrs. Francoise Gauthier, to intensify his representations
near its federal counterpart so that the program is really adapted to
the characteristics of Quebec and that it is with the height of the
needs for the producers. Let us recall that the discovery of a case of
ESB in Alberta, May 20, 2003, involved the immediate closing of the
borders to export and carried out the bovine sector in a crisis
without precedent. Still today, the embargo affects 60 % of the bovine
products and results in a fall of price varying from 30 Ã .70.%,
according to the category of bovines. Affiliated with the Union of the
agricultural producers, the Federation of the producers of bovines of
Quebec gathers 24 300 calf and ox producers established in all the
areas of Quebec. Third more important production livestock in Quebec,
bovine industry generates annual sales of more than 600 million
dollars and markets some 800 000 bovines annually. The Federation
represents the five sectors of bovine production, that is to say those
of calves of fattening, of bouvillons of demolition, calves of
grain, milk calves as well as bovines of reform and dairy calves. - 30
- Information: Denise Audet Agente of communication Federation
of the producers of bovines of Quebec Tel.: (450) 679-0540, item 8354
Éliane Hamel Adviser, Public affairs Union of the agricultural
producers Tel.: (450) 679-0540, item 8591 Frederic Krikorian
Adviser public relations and governmental Federation of the milk
producers of Quebec Tel.. (450) 679-0530, item 8704
Comment