Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
I thank all the witnesses for being here. We are very privileged to have heard very high-quality presentations. Unfortunately, we have little time to ask questions.
It is worth repeating that Quebec represents 32% of the Canadian forestry industry, that 45% of the municipalities that are dependent on the forestry industry alone are in Quebec and that more than half of the forestry-dependent jobs that have been lost in Canada since April 2005 have been lost in Quebec. These figures represent a heavy burden for Quebec. The forestry crisis is hitting Quebec, Ontario and other provinces hard. Everyone agrees that all of the towns that are dependent on the forestry industry have been hard hit in Quebec.
Almost all of you spoke of the importance of research and innovation. You talked about it as a lever and as a means of getting out of this crisis, to be able to compete and to be forward-thinking.
Mr. Asselin, could you tell me about the importance of investing in research for the forestry sectors of Quebec and of the other provinces? What practical effects could push the members on the government side to recommend much greater investment in training and research?