Good afternoon, Mr. Bouthillier.
Innovation in the pellet market is something that intrigues and interests me a great deal. There are projects in eastern Canada, including in Saint-Jean-de-Dieu in my riding, where a Belgian company is running a project to produce torrefied pellets. We are also hearing about a Finnish company that is currently working in New Brunswick. However, there does not seem to be progress in Quebec. In fact, all the pellets currently being produced are intended for export. Nothing is being produced for the domestic market.
Yesterday, I asked Mr. Lapointe from FPInnovations the question. He thought that one of the problems for wood pellets in Canada, especially in eastern Canada, is the cost of the pellets, which makes competitiveness difficult because these companies are subsidized on the European market. However, that is not the situation in western Canada.
Is that also your analysis of the situation?
How do you think we could ensure that pellets are something to be promoted for the Canadian industry?