I'd like to talk about the Gatineau plant. This is a problem that affects Quebec and Gatineau. I will continue to be conservative. Here I'm not referring to the Conservative Party.
Construction of the Gatineau plant began in 1926, and the plant became operational in 1929. The first collective agreement was signed in 1933. At certain points, the plant had 3,000 or 4,000 workers. And there wasn't only the CIP plant. There was one Masonite plant, then International Plywood and Commercial Alcool began operations there; after that, there was a Ten Test plant. In the 1990s, there were still 1,500 workers. A first machine was shut down, then a second, and then another in 2007. There were investments, automation and new technologies introduced.
We have the best plant as well as a recovery plan. As Mr. Paterson said, there is a need to look to convergence and move into other market niches. This has become a national issue. My people from Ottawa are here. My Vice-President for Quebec, Mr. Gagné, is not here. He is the one who has given us the greatest support on these issues. I am not saying these people didn't do their jobs They did and they are still doing a lot. That's their job. This has become a national issue.
Why did we not appear before the Senate Committee on Industry, Science and Technology before now? Why are two plants with enormous potential being shut down? I can't speak for the Dolbeau plant, because I never went there. But I do know it has recent infrastructure. That plant was worth a great deal of money, but its value was depreciated: it's now worth $3 million. Tell me that the Thurso plant in the Outaouais is worth $3 million. Millions and millions of dollars were invested there.
As for Gatineau, we assume it was a setup. That's what it is. These people did everything they could to make us look bad. In April of 2007, Mr. Cayouette said that if they shut down one machine, it would be the beginning of the end. In order to bring us on side, they threatened us. They started talking about rationalization. In 2008 and 2009, they premeditated a situation intending to make us look bad. Funds were invested in equipment, but nothing was invested in labour. There was a lack of both workers and training in the paper mills. The Assistant Director of the plant, Mr. Levasseur, even asked an assessment. Finally, they had the effrontery to give $3,3 million to the Gatineau plant in January and February of 2010 as an investment. That is part of their liabilities. These people are trying to get around the situation. We haven't received much cooperation on the recovery plan.
We have a very good recovery plan that we don't intend to table here. But we believe in it. We will get things going again and stay the course, with or without federal assistance. We will receive assistance from the provincial government, from the FTQ, from the workers and from CEP. We will start up the plant again because it is profitable. It's a question of survival. What I deplore about Mr. Harper is that he won't help us twice. You haven't helped us enough and you should do more. Making a mistake once is not a problem, but continuing to make a mistake is. You have an opportunity to mend your ways. One thing is certain, however, and that is that we will start up the plant again.