Bernard Drainville continues to hunt on conservative ground. The candidate to succeed François Legault as Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) leader is proposing “a full and permanent rebate” of the carbon tax for agricultural businesses.
“Our producers are paying too much for the carbon tax, and their growth is limited by excessive regulation. It is essential to take action to unlock the potential of the agricultural sector and give hope to our next generation,” he said in a press release on Monday.
Drainville also intends to continue his work as environment minister by easing “environmental authorizations, particularly for watercourse cleanup, water withdrawals, and farm expansion projects.”
“We must simplify the Ministry of the Environment’s authorization process and put an end to excessive requests for information that unnecessarily burden farmers. With these measures, there will be fewer delays, less paperwork, and they will be able to focus on what they do best: feeding Quebec,” he said.
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When he was minister, Drainville announced a reform to cut environmental assessment delays in half.
Drainville also says he will defend supply management “without compromise” and is offering financial support to agricultural businesses for the purchase of equipment to help them become “more efficient and competitive.”
Drainville is facing Christine Fréchette in the CAQ race. Legault’s successor will be elected on April 12.
