Gestion de l'eau au Québec: quand politique de l'eau et politique agricole se conjuguent à l'imparfait

Abstract

The Quebec Government enacted a National Water Policy in 2002. Its goal was to set up a holistic approach toward water management, as opposed to the sectorial approach that previously prevailed. Largely inspired by the water management policy set up in France as of 1964, the National Water Policy launched by the Parti Quebecois government makes provisions for the creation of watershed-size management units as well as for water planning decided by local socio-economic stakeholders. However, the heart of the policy rests on the principles of pollution and consumption taxation, principles that directly infringe on the agribusiness sector. It is therefore not surprising that the Quebec Ministry of Agriculture is reluctant to make farmers subject to more stringent environmental regulations and to reduce subsidies that do not foster sustainable farming, as strongly suggested by the Quebec Auditor General (Verificateur general). The Quebec Government is therefore confronted with a dilemma: is it possible to deve...