Madam Speaker, I thank my friend from South Shore for bringing the motion forward. I admit that I do not know a lot about the pinewood nematode, the beetle in the wood which is causing the ban of the export of Canadian forest products to Europe. However I would like to bring this debate to the larger picture.
I am from British Columbia. The issue of trade barriers to softwood lumber is very big as it threatens the forest industry in British Columbia. In light of that I support anything we can do to remove all trade barriers.
I thank my hon. friend opposite for his comments. He advised us that a study is under way.
I do not know if the forest industry in British Columbia right now is in a crisis situation but it is definitely moving in that direction. We constantly read in the newspapers and see on the evening news items about sawmills and forest product companies that are going under. A lot of it is due to the difficulties and challenges they face today, some of the difficulties and challenges being trade barriers and access to foreign markets.
In the last few years the forest industry in British Columbia has faced trade barriers with the United States which have had a devastating impact on the industry as a whole. The industry has had to fight to overcome those barriers. I believe the House is aware of those trade barriers.
We are moving toward globalized trade. Trade barriers are coming down. If we are to succeed as a nation with all of our forest products we will have to fight to ensure that trade barriers are eliminated and that Canada's interests are first and foremost.
Having said that, when the government considers this study I ask it to look at all potential markets. We must do everything we can do to eliminate trade barriers to ensure that our producers have access to as many markets as possible and that there are no unfair practices and scientific data that are unchallenged which we believe are incorrect and will pose threats to our forest industry.
The hon. member for South Shore quite correctly pointed out that our 69 cent dollar to the U.S. is an incentive for Americans to purchase our softwood lumber products. However it may not be that way all the time. I understand that if our currency increases by one cent it represents hundreds of millions of dollars to the Canadian forest industry alone. I believe that 85% of British Columbia's market is exported to the United States.
My colleague from Vancouver Island North, who is a professional forester, will probably be able to speak better than me on the technical aspects. However, bringing this back to the larger picture, the motion is very specific to one insect or bug that is within our softwood lumber and is causing the European ban. I am not sure of the answer.
Also I would like to ask the government when it does its study, whether with respect to the pinewood nematode this is targeted at the Christmas tree industry or where it is specifically generated. It sounds like the trade barriers are having far reaching repercussions to all of our softwood lumber. British Columbia produces a majority of softwood lumber. Does this ban also apply there? What can we do to ensure that our forestry companies have access to these markets?
I support the member for South Shore in his initiative to have a study brought forward on this. I ask to have the larger picture looked at to ensure that our forest companies have access to as many markets as possible.