Mr. Speaker, as the chair of the Canada-Europe Parliamentary Association I was pleased to hear my colleague from Kootenay East remark on the success of the 21st annual Canada-Europe interparliamentary meeting held in Vancouver.
While we discussed many issues of importance to the relations between Canada and Europe, our greatest success was showing the European delegates that Canada is at the forefront of progressive forestry practices.
I want to thank all the delegates, Canadian and European, for their frank and constructive input. At the end of our deliberations I believe we found common ground and solved a potentially disastrous problem.
News reports have confirmed the ultimate success of the meetings. My hope for this association is to foster a greater understanding among European parliamentarians of Canadian policies and positions, even those of alternative points of view.
Reports in La Presse suggest the change in venue from Quebec City to Vancouver reflected a reluctance on the association's part to discuss the political issues of Quebec. Nothing could be further from the truth. Both executives agreed to the change in venue.
I need only remind the members of the serious economic repercussions a ban on wood products exported to Europe would have on communities across Canada.