Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.
I'll ask three quick questions and try to address them to specific people, but I'm sure other witnesses may want to respond.
The other day, the natural resources committee learned that the billion-dollar Community Development Trust will be basically, simply transferred to the provinces and territories, with a small base funding and a per capita amount, with no requirements specifically that it be used for forestry and there would be no federal conditions as to how this money would be utilized.
The billion dollars is spread over a three-year period. We all thought it was a one-year funding, so that further dilutes what many people felt was already an inadequate amount. No municipalities, labour, or industry were consulted on how to distribute it.
Perhaps, Mayor Krassilowsky, you'd like to address this when I'm finished my questioning. How would you like that money delivered, and what is a workable program for a municipality such as yours or Mr. Vinet's?
Mr. Leitao, I don't know if you are aware of it, but it's been said as of this morning that there are few, if any, forest companies operating in the black, whether it's lumber, OSB, pulp, paper, newsprint, or recycleables. We've also learned that many are now without a bank. I hope yours is the exception. So the question you may be able to help us with is this. What policy can the federal government adopt to ensure that banks are there not just during this crisis but after the restructuring is over, because they need you?
Mr. Laneville, you may have a particular advantage to understand this problem, which is new. I know we didn't need a new problem, but it's compounding, and it deals with the huge and growing issue of railway services to mills and plants, the lack of flat cars and pulp cars, and the increasing rates forcing many of these pulp and paper plants to stockpile. In that industry, if it's stockpiled, it's very vulnerable to weather and all those other kinds of things. That's a national transportation issue that I hope some of you can address.
Thank you, Mr. Chair.