Good morning, everyone.
We are here today to continue our study of the unique opportunities and challenges facing the forest products industry. We started with a meeting with the deputy minister on Tuesday, and we have four witnesses with us today.
From the Forest Products Association of Canada we have Avrim Lazar, president and chief executive officer; and Tom Rosser, chief economist. With the Quebec Forest Industry Council, we have Michel Vincent, director, economics, markets, and international trade. And from AbitibiBowater Inc. we have Hugues Simon, vice-president, value-added wood products.
Welcome to all of you, and thank you very much for coming today. We really are looking forward to your input into this study.
We'll take the presentations--I assume there's one from each group--and we'll start in the order that's in the orders of the day.
From the Forest Products Association of Canada, Avrim Lazar, president and chief executive officer. Go ahead, please.