In Canada, rural poverty has been sufficiently recognized for public opinion to be aroused and for the legislative powers to take action. Prompted by the federal law A.R.D.A. concerning Country Planning and Agricultural Development (1961), research projects have been undertaken and programmes of action put into operation. To-day, the Value of these efforts, which are perhaps not sufficiently important, and the orientation of which may be contested, is being questioned. The writer attempts to sum up the present position and to situate problems and solutions in a global and regional perspective, by limiting his study to the families of Quebec farmers. The study of poverty according to its level, , ans its importance compared with the Quebec agricultural workers as a whole and Us geographical situation underlines its persistent nature. The elements of econoomic analysis which make up the second part are intended to explore the links between poverty and certain general economic factors and mecanisms, such as the productivity of labour and the adaptation of agriculture to economic growth. In a third part, the writer engages in a rapid survey oof agricultural policies and the general economic policy connected with poverty. An evaluation of these policies, particularly of the A.R.D.A. law is attempted w the light of, the economic analysis of the second part.
