Thank you very, Mr. Chairman.
I would like to thank the witnesses who are with us today. I believe they are giving extremely valuable testimony. I understand the situation in which the mayor and the union representatives now find themselves. They are on the front line. When a closure of this magnitude takes place, it makes sense that people go to see them. It's a human tragedy, and people can't cope.
I was listening to Mr. Lamontagne's comments earlier. Can you tell me more about AbitibiBowater's infamous monopoly? That company seems to have a large market share and pretty well does whatever it wants with these plants. Is that due to all of its acquisitions, and to the fact that it owes too much money and is making business decisions to pay down its debt? The two plants we have been talking about, including the one in Gatineau, are profitable. The latter has new equipment, is making a profit, and yet the plant is still shutting down.
You have been part of the worker community in these plants and you yourself saw what happened. You are better aware than we are of what is happening in that market. Please try and explain. Did the company lack vision? Did it have a long-term vision? Is it bending under the weight of its debt load?