Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Honourable members of the committee, good afternoon.
We are grateful to the committee for taking the time to conduct this important study on our sector.
Boisaco group is a community-owned organization, belonging to some 300 co-operative workers and more than 800 citizen-investors in our community. Boisaco group's mission is to drive sustainable development through the responsible development of the woody resource, while ensuring that our community and sector thrive. In keeping with this mission, eight primary, secondary and tertiary processing companies have joined forces with Boisaco group. We operate mainly on the Haute-Côte-Nord and in the Saguenay region, in Quebec.
Our industry is in a dispute with the U.S., and it's been going on for far too long. Today, the situation has escalated. As a civic-minded organization with deep roots in the community, we are asking the federal government to show foresight. It is critically important that it recognize the significance of and need for the forestry sector. To that end, the government needs a true picture of forest management as practised in Canada.
Thousands of men and women have been managing and developing forest resources for multiple generations. They care about our forests. All too often, opponents of the forestry sector spread oversimplified messages, make erroneous claims and perpetuate myths. These things shape what Canadians think, and unfortunately, perception prevails over reality, casting a shadow on the hard-working, diligent and professional people who work in forests. Every single forestry worker is a professional in their respective field. They do not deserve to be treated with contempt. They deserve respect, recognition and consideration, like any worker in any sector.
Wood is the most environmentally friendly material there is, and Quebec's and Canada's forestry practices are among the best in the world. These practices are certified under internationally recognized criteria of sustainable forest management, ensuring that the needs of current generations can be met without jeopardizing the ability to meet the needs of future generations.
All Canadians depend on products that are the result of wood processing. From building materials to furniture parts, from toilet paper to sanitary napkins, from food-grade containers to cardboard packaging, from wood pellets to pallet components, wood is everywhere; we rely on it in every part of our lives. Every individual consumes an average of 1.5 to two cubic metres of wood products a year. Every product we consume is thanks to the hard work of thousands of men and women, often labouring in tough conditions in the heart of our regions and forests. It's ironic: as a society, we are all very glad that many of our needs can be met thanks to wood processors and the products they provide, but we condemn the work and effort that go into making those products. Enough is enough. It's time to give the forestry sector the respect it deserves, but above all, it's time to give all those who harvest and process lumber the dignity they deserve. It is thanks to them that all Canadians have access to these products.
The federal government has a pivotal role to play on that front. It must help raise collective awareness of the importance of the forestry sector across the country. It must create a favourable, future-focused environment for the sector, by encouraging the use of wood, supporting home building and providing access to liquidity during this very challenging time. At the same time, the government needs to encourage innovation in all its forms, across the primary, secondary and tertiary processing chain. Most of all, the federal government must work tirelessly and strenuously on the sector's behalf, especially when it comes to the long-running softwood lumber dispute with the U.S.
Thank you very much.