The Challenge of Reconciling Water and Agricultural Policies —The Role of Public Hearings - Water and Agriculture: Sustainability, Markets and Policies - page 375

Chapter 25.
The Challenge of Reconciling Water and Agricultural Policies —
The Role of Public Hearings

Denis Boutin 1

In recent years, the Québec government has introduced new measures that significantly
reinforce frameworks for both water protection and agricultural activities. In late 2002, it
adopted the Québec Water Policy, which undertakes to introduce a watershed-based
management strategy for cleaning up watercourses and intensifying agricultural clean-up
efforts. Agricultural policies have also been undergoing important transformations in
Québec over the past few years. The Regulation Respecting Agricultural Operations has
reinforced controls over agricultural pollution, while the policy directions for the
sustainable development of hog farming, adopted in 2004, have led to the implementation
of new measures and requirements favouring the integration of sustainable development
principles in pig farming. These changes were legitimised by extensive public
consultations conducted by a specialised office for public hearings on the environment,
the Bureau d'audiences publiques sur l'environnement (BAPE). Through these
consultations, BAPE provided advice and recommendations to guide government
decision-making with a view to sustainable development. It held comprehensive public
hearings on water management in 1999-2000 and on sustainable development for hog
farming in 2002-2003. These two consultation processes were the key events on which
current reforms are based, and they have contributed to meeting the challenge of
reconciling water and agricultural policies.

Introduction

Although water is often the resource most affected by farming activities, agricultural
pollution frequently appears as the most difficult form to prevent and clean up. This is
mainly due to the fact that it is non-point source pollution that involves many different
farm operations, using very diverse practices and spread over a large territory with
varying biophysical characteristics. To counteract the environmental impacts of
agriculture, governments are seeking to exercise greater control over agricultural
activities. However, reducing agricultural water pollution remains a challenge to
policymakers, with no clear pathway to success.

1.

Agricultural Economist, Ministère du Développement durable, de l'Environnement et des Parcs,
Québec, Canada.