Mr. Speaker, to mark National Forest Week, I would like to acknowledge the great contribution made by the federal government and
all other participants to the model forest program. This program has gone a long way toward integrating principles of sustainable forestry into logging operations in Canada.
The model forest program has in just three years firmly established a nationwide network of ten large-scale model forest partnerships. The worldwide notoriety of this project has helped to place Canada in a leadership role in forest management.
These partnerships are comprised of willing and committed individuals, encompassing a broad spectrum of our society, including academics, students, traditional and non-traditional forest-based industries, foresters, and First Nations groups.
I wish to congratulate all the dedicated people working together for the sustainable development of Canadian forest resources.