Mr. Speaker, as the hon. member well knows because of his interest in the forestry sector in Quebec, it was the previous government that decided to cancel FRDA or Federal-Provincial Forest Resource Development Agreements. Because of the sorry state of the finances of the nation left to us by the previous government, we had no choice but to confirm that decision of the previous government. Therefore FRDA will expire across the nation as their due dates come upon us.
Let me say that because of program review my department had to reassess its priorities. The Department of Natural Resources is not a department of regional economic development. It is primarily a department of science and technology. We are working very closely with our provincial counterparts and industry to ensure the forestry sector has the science and technology base it needs to compete with the best in the world.