Bill 86 Would Further Protect Green Zone

By Meredith Mackeen

The Quebec government has introduced legislation designed to strengthen the protection of agricultural land. Bill 86, introduced late last year, is the first major proposed change to Quebec’s agricultural zoning laws since they were introduced in the late 1970s.

The stated goal of the bill is to:

• Limit speculative purchases of land,
• Further restrict land use for areas deemed “green,”
• And encourage farming.

The bill comes amid concerns that too much agricultural land is being lost to development. Between 1998 and 2022, more than 4,500 hectares of farmland in Quebec were lost, mainly to infrastructure projects related to transportation and hydro, with some suburban sprawl. For example, in 2023, prime farmland was de-zoned to make way for a massive government-backed battery plant on 170 hectares between St. Basile-le-Grand and McMasterville.

Upcoming Hearings

Hearings will be held at the National Assembly before the bill becomes law.
While there is strong support from agricultural interest groups, there are many questions about the bill’s impact on small farmers and rural families, including in our area, where much of the green zone — while picturesque — has little or no value for commercial farming.

Main Provisions of Bill 86

• The sale of agricultural land is prohibited to investment funds, non-farmers, and foreigners.
• Building new commercial greenhouses or warehouses is prohibited within 1,000 metres of urbanization perimeters.
• Tree plantations on agricultural land are prohibited.
• All sales of agricultural land are subject to review by the Commission de protection du territoire agricole du Québec (CPTAQ).

Under the bill, the CPTAQ’s powers and authority will expand significantly.

Local Impact

The economics of farming have changed dramatically over recent decades. Small family farms, many of which in our area were once dairy or beef farms, have largely given way to large industrial farms in other regions. Meanwhile, local land prices have risen due to their residential value.

In addition, the local MRC has proposed that:

• 1,500 hectares of forested area, and
• 1,500 hectares of wetlands
  be assigned special conservation status.

Much of the green zone around here is not suitable for commercial farming. According to Eddy Whitcher, a farmer and municipal councillor in West Bolton, Bill 86 means he cannot sell off a small, stony, non-productive corner of his land to someone wanting to build a home — proceeds he might have used to improve his herds or equipment. Instead, he must retain the land.

Likewise, landowners cannot parcel off land for their children, further eroding the local farming community.

“Protection of land suitable for agriculture and realistic policies that encourage farming are crucial for our future,”
— Eddy Whitcher

Whitcher predicts that hobby farms will increasingly dominate our area, and that full-time farming will diminish. In future, food production may become a part-time endeavour, in contrast to full-time farmers who need at least 120 head of cattle and sufficient land to survive.