Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you for this thoughtful gesture and for not cutting my time short.
Thank you to all the witnesses who are here with us today sharing their experiences and their expertise. They are definitely providing us with a clearer picture, which will guide our work and help us achieve two goals: to provide an update on the forest industry since the 2008 study, and to see how the federal government can be the best possible partner in developing this industry.
My first questions are for Mr. Archambault, not because Kruger has a plant in Trois-Rivières—as we know, the company has locations all over—but because I have been following the company's development for quite some time. My grandfather worked there to provide for his family, and I also worked there, as a student. A pilot project on cellulose fibre was launched last December. Research and development is absolutely crucial to success, especially the kind of success that Kruger in Trois-Rivières seems to be experiencing.
R&D projects in forestry do exist. In my region, there are also R&D projects in the aircraft industry, and in many other sectors. Based on discussions I've had with many entrepreneurs in my riding, it seems that there is no consistency in how R&D projects are assessed. Depending on the office one is dealing with, whether in Quebec City or Montreal, there is no consistent criteria.
Has this ever been a problem for Kruger? That would be one way for the federal government to be a better partner in the event of serious problems in that regard. This is what has come out of some of the discussions I've had with entrepreneurs. Have you had that problem?