I would agree entirely. One of the forestry industry's priorities is to invest in value-added products. If the industry does not do so, unfortunately, I don't think that in future years we will be talking much about the forestry industry in Canada and Quebec.
Currently, the existing programs at the provincial and federal level are no longer adapted to business, and particularly not to small businesses. Today, there is every indication that value-added products will not be developed by major businesses. They will be primarily developed by small businesses. That is why I was suggesting there should be refundable tax credits. Currently, there is no industry in Quebec, whether it is a major company or not, that is investing money in this because unfortunately it does not turn a profit.
Moreover, we must be able to benefit from tailored programs. The crisis is real, but it is temporary. Often, the plants are temporarily closed. Manufacturers could take advantage of this time to invest in modernizing their plants in order to develop value-added products. As the plants are hardly producing anything, it would be the time to do so. At home, NBG invested $3 million in their mill two years ago. Seventy per cent of the profits generated had been invested in the plant. Currently, in order to develop value-added products, we would need $2 to $3 million more in order to reach out to particular markets, to particular niches. Unfortunately, because of the current situation, we are not in a position to do so. It is not for lack of good will. The fact that the mill belongs to small owners allowed for 70% of the profits generated at the plant in 2004 to be reinvested, that is to say only three years after its opening.
As far as research is concerned, there obviously remains a great deal to be done on biofuels and biomass. Scandinavian countries have done a great deal. We must find solutions for uses of the unused fibre, which at the same time would decrease greenhouse gas emissions.