Mr. Speaker, Canada is endowed with some 520 million hectares of unique ecological value, the boreal forest. Of great alarm then is the boreal forest conservation framework proposed by four forest and mining companies and four environmental NGOs whereby half the boreal forest would be exploited for commercial purposes.
The proposed framework was concluded without public consultation, without approval by governments and without assurance that once the agreed upon first half of the boreal forest will be cut other forest companies would not come forward and claim the second half.
In addition, the framework would seriously impact Canada's Kyoto commitment and Canada's biodiversity convention obligations.
Finally, aboriginal peoples' livelihood, way of life and traditions would be affected.
For the sake of future generations, I therefore urge the federal government to protect the boreal forest and dismiss the framework.