First of all, I'd like to thank the Committee for having us.
First I'd like to specify that, in some respects, we see something positive in this venture: it is a pulp and paper company that has acquired Resolute Forest Products. Let's not forget, however, that Resolute Forest Products belonged to an investment holding company, which could at any time sell the company off in pieces or break it up, with no real follow-up plan.
The lack of transparency of the plan, which has already been mentioned, is an aspect that concerns us. We'd like to have a bit more detail, and to know what objectives Paper Excellence has for Resolute Forest Products, which is part of a range of operations in Quebec. It starts with the forest and includes sawmills, paper mills and cardboard production. Paper Excellence doesn't have this model anywhere else in the world. We'd like to know where the company stands regarding the reality of Resolute Forest Products in Canada and Quebec.
The company has entered our forestry industry at a pivotal time. We are currently seeking a kind of balance for all the challenges we have to overcome, whether it be the lumber industry, industrial diversification strategies, trade conflicts with the United States, measures to protect biodiversity, or relations with first nations. We are not hearing anything about these things. We'd like to know where they fit into the company's business plan. That is what workers in Quebec are extremely concerned about in the wake of this acquisition.
I'll now hand it over to Mr. Vaillancourt.