Mr. Speaker, this week has been declared both national forestry week and national mining week. Last year these two industries jointly provided 421,000 direct Canadian jobs. For 1993, forestry and mining together accounted for $10 billion more to Canada's balance of trade, meaning exports minus imports, than the combined production of energy, automotive vehicles and parts, agriculture and fishing.
Last week I had the pleasure of attending the AGM of the B.C. Interior Lumber Manufacturers Association. Far from being a sunset industry, these people represent world leading companies, which are constantly inventing better ways to use our natural resources with improved environmental safeguards and full cooperation with all who depend on our beautiful but limited land base.
On behalf of all Canadians, I want to thank the forest and mining industries for their continued contribution to making Canada one of the most prosperous nations on earth.