The third culprit, as CEP sees it, in all of these events relating to the forest industry and the crisis is currently experiencing, is the Conservative government. After five years of crisis in our industry, what has been done? It can be summarized as two zeros and a line. Loan guarantees from our federal government: none. Assistance to any company to keep it out of bankruptcy or help it emerge from bankruptcy: none. A forest summit to bring our country together with a plan: no. I admit there was a brief, four-hour meeting, as alluded to earlier by this gentleman. It was a mini summit of sorts. But that is not what we need. During the last election campaign, I met with Lawrence Cannon, a Conservative government minister. We were at the premises of a paper mill in the region, which is also covered under the CCAA. Mr. Cannon promised a summit on the forest industry. He told us that his government would organize such a summit, but we are still waiting.
Why are we talking about a summit? Because in our opinion, it would be an opportunity to bring together all the players: governments, unions, communities and First Nations. Together they could develop a plan for the future. At present, there is no plan for this industry. Across the country, we are losing power plants, our industrial fabric. But the trees are going to continue to grow. This is a renewable resource. What is going to happen? For 100 years the forest industry has provided a living to communities all across Canada. But now, plants everywhere are being shut down. And no one is coming forward with a plan to convert our industry. Yet that is what we need.
In countries where this has happened, government officials sat down with industry players, examined the situation and decided to develop a plan for the future, and find a way to convert their industries. That is what is needed, but it won't happen without help from governments. Since you read the newspapers and you heard it said this morning, you are well aware that forestry companies, all of which you are familiar with, are, without exception, on the verge of declaring bankruptcy, if they haven't already. Government assistance and a plan are clearly needed. The federal government must have a vision of the direction in which to take the forest industry, so that it can continue to provide a living to these communities. We have to convert these plants, rather than letting them just shut down and do nothing about it. This is important. Otherwise, we will end up harvesting logs and, as is the case with the oil sands, ship them off to the United States without processing them first.
I have one final recommendation to make. We have formally requested of AbitibiBowater that it not dismantle the Gatineau and Dolbeau-Mistassini facilities. We believe it's important for AbitibiBowater to ensure that they remain operational. With winter coming, that is very important. If the company is serious about its restructuring plan, it must ensure that these plants continue to operate.
Once again, we will require federal government assistance to convert these plants to other types of new production. But that can be done. All that is needed is for someone, somewhere, to have a vision.