The Challenge of Reconciling Water and Agricultural Policies —The Role of Public Hearings - Water and Agriculture: Sustainability, Markets and Policies - page 378

The adoption of the Regulation Respecting Agricultural Operations (RRAO)
In June 2002, the Québec government adopted the Regulation Respecting
Agricultural Operations ( Éditeur officiel du Québec , 2002). The new regulation updated
and simplified the existing regulation and reinforced pollution control measures for
farming operations, notably by increasing the number of farm inspections. Besides
requiring the farmer to have watertight manure storage facilities, it sought to address the
non-point source pollution problem by striking a balance between soil-carrying capacity
for phosphorus and the quantity of fertilising substances being spread. This provision
took immediate effect for new facilities or herd increases, whereas existing farms were
given until 2010 to fully comply. The regulation aims to ensure sound management of
fertilising substances by requiring each farm to prepare an agro-environmental
fertilisation plan, submit regular phosphorus balance reports, and comply with newly
prescribed restrictions on the spreading of livestock waste (protective distances, use of
low ramp equipment for liquid manure management, periods permitted, etc.).
Along with these measures, the new regulation introduced administrative
requirements that imposed temporary limitations on the development of new hog farming
operations. The measure was a response to growing controversy over hog farm expansion
in rural Québec, where there are widespread concerns about odours and watercourse
degradation resulting from over-fertilisation. The Québec government also felt that a
provisional halt was justified by the new mandate it had given to BAPE, this time to
conduct hearings on the sustainable development of hog farming. The moratorium was
seen as a way to create a more constructive working atmosphere for the new BAPE
Commission and to foster stakeholder participation in the consultation process.
The Québec Water Policy
A policy framework …
Adopted in November 2002, the Québec Water Policy was the outcome of several
years of research, consultation, recommendations and positions taken on the issues,
directions and actions required to manage Québec's water resource. It was developed to
provide a better framework for water management and guarantee the sustainability of the
resource. The policy proposes a new approach to water governance based on grassroots
participation and the democratisation of information, as well as a consistent strategy of
integrated water management involving close coordination among government
departments, public agencies, and water-management stakeholders at the different levels
of intervention (MENV, 2002).
Recognising water as part of Québec's collective heritage, the policy sets forth
measures and government commitments in five key areas:
implementation of watershed-based management to reform water governance
integrated management of the St. Lawrence River system, notably by granting this
important watercourse a special status
protection of water quality and aquatic ecosystems