Evidence of meeting #75 for Natural Resources in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was quebec.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Denis Lebel  Chief Executive Officer, Quebec Forest Industry Council
William Downing  President, Structurlam Products LP

4:30 p.m.

Chief Executive Officer, Quebec Forest Industry Council

Denis Lebel

We didn't talk about it earlier, so I wanted to point that out.

4:30 p.m.

Liberal

Paul Lefebvre Liberal Sudbury, ON

Thank you.

4:30 p.m.

Chief Executive Officer, Quebec Forest Industry Council

Denis Lebel

So we are talking here about promising projects, and a great deal of diversification in chemical-based products.

4:30 p.m.

Liberal

Paul Lefebvre Liberal Sudbury, ON

Very well.

Earlier you mentioned the woodland caribou. If you spoke to the mayor of Kapuskasing, you will know that this is currently an important issue in northern Ontario and northern Quebec.

I would like you to tell us a bit about it and about the effect it might have on the forest industry in northern Ontario and northern Quebec.

4:30 p.m.

Chief Executive Officer, Quebec Forest Industry Council

Denis Lebel

Of course, we have to defend the various animal species and care for the animal world, but on the basis of scientific data. As I said earlier, I have been working for several years on forestry issues, and my impression is that there has not been enough scientific research done on the woodland caribou.

Before making decisions that could have repercussions on tens of thousands of jobs in all regions of Canada including the north of Ontario and northern Quebec, we need to do research and acquire more knowledge. Of course, we have to protect animal species like the woodland caribou, but this has to be based on scientific data rather than on simple perceptions. In my opinion, and according to the Quebec forest industry and our council, we do not have enough knowledge. We have to encourage the public servants at Environment Canada and Natural Resources Canada to do more research and gather more data. If need be, we can make some science-based decisions in the future.

4:30 p.m.

Liberal

Paul Lefebvre Liberal Sudbury, ON

Thank you very much.

4:30 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal James Maloney

Thank you, Mr. Lefebvre.

That wraps up this part of the meeting.

Thank you, gentlemen, for joining us today. We're grateful to both of you for taking the time to join us and provide us with your input on this important study.

Mr. Lebel, I don't know if it made you happy to come back or just reinforced your decision. Either way, we're grateful to you for being here.

We're going to suspend for two minutes and then go in camera very briefly for committee business.

[Proceedings continue in camera]