Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to mention the 40th anniversary of an outstanding Quebec business.
The Cascades group, founded by Bernard Lemaire in Kingsey Falls in 1964, with only 12 employees, is now among North America's leaders in the manufacturing of packaging products, tissue paper and specialized fine papers. It now relies on a workforce of 15,000 employees in nearly 150 units located in Quebec, Canada, the United States, France, England, Germany and Sweden.
Cascades is a major international company that recycles more than two million tons of paper and board annually. Leading edge de-inking technology and sustained research and development enable Cascades to create innovative, high-value-added products.
I want to congratulate the brothers who built the company, Bernard, Laurent and Alain Lemaire, and all their employees on their success and their contribution to Quebec's economic development.