I think we have to take both short-term and medium-term measures. I pretty much agree with Mr. Coles on the medium and long term, but I also agree with Mr. Hanlon on the medium term. In any event, we have to do something in the short term, because otherwise we are not going to be ready when the economic recovery comes. For example, I was saying that we are going to be short 3,000 jobs for new graduates, and that if POWA, the Program for Older Worker Adjustment, is not in place by then, we are going to be done for. We are going to have trouble finding workers when the economic upturn comes.
As well, you are talking about tax rebate programs, but we are not making a dime. You could offer us any program you like, but it won't change anything, it isn't support. Get off that track, it's going nowhere in terms of assistance. I think, however, that you could support the certification coaching program. We want to have certified products and we are prepared to get moving on that, but as you know, certification is expensive. That program could really be very worthwhile. FERIC, PAPRICAN and FORINTEK could be given support for research. We have 700 projects in our companies in Quebec, including under CRIC and FERIC. That form of assistance would not be contrary to the softwood lumber agreement with the Americans.
Product certification programs are a long and expensive process. We can opt for lifting the tax on fuel for off-road vehicles, for example vehicles used in the forest. That is also a form of support that does not violate the softwood lumber agreement. Biomass is an approach for the future. In my opinion, it helps in finding substitutes for fossil fuel. It is an avenue that is very worthwhile for governments to explore, given all of the environmental issues on a planet-wide scale. I mentioned the industry associations aspect, and I would reiterate that. Monitoring building codes in the United States, for example, costs us $800,000. That means that proportionately, for us in Canada, this amounts to nearly $4 million. We are talking about something like 10¢ or 12¢ a cubic metre for the industry in general. That is also a form of short-term support.
There are avenues that can be explored, and we are prepared to work on committees, but there have to be some concrete results. Stop telling us you are going to help us. That is what I call saying one thing and doing another.