House of Commons Hansard #27 of the 40th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was seniors.

Topics

Opposition Motion—Forestry IndustryBusiness of SupplyGovernment Orders

11:55 a.m.

Conservative

The Acting Speaker Conservative Barry Devolin

Questions and comments. The hon. member for Abitibi--Témiscamingue.

Opposition Motion—Forestry IndustryBusiness of SupplyGovernment Orders

11:55 a.m.

Bloc

Marc Lemay Bloc Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC

Mr. Speaker, I listened closely to my colleague. Our ridings are almost side by side. Hers is in Ontario. Even though my riding is closer to Timmins—James Bay, I know exactly where her riding is in relation to mine. The same things are happening in my riding, and I will talk about that here in the House in a few minutes.

I have a question for my colleague. We know that companies are shutting down and are facing difficulties. Have any businesses in her riding asked for help from FedNor, for example, or other governmental organizations? Have they been turned down under the pretext that it is no longer worth investing in the forestry industry, that there are too many companies already, and that the goal is to shut down as many as possible in her riding? Is it possible to get help for new developments?

Opposition Motion—Forestry IndustryBusiness of SupplyGovernment Orders

11:55 a.m.

NDP

Carol Hughes NDP Algoma—Manitoulin—Kapuskasing, ON

Mr. Speaker, I thank my hon. colleague for his question. Forestry industry representatives have requested certain things from the government. One of their major requests came at budget time. They asked to have access to reasonable credit and wanted to ensure that the price of electricity would not cost them their businesses. In the meantime, they have also asked for money for training. However, certain restrictions apply to that money. The government will not say anything about this. The forestry industry is struggling from one community to the next, and the government refuses to acknowledge this.

I met with representatives from a business in Espanola a few weeks ago. They have already changed everything they can within their business. They said what they really need is help from the Conservative government, which continues to deny that the industry is currently going through a major crisis.

Opposition Motion—Forestry IndustryBusiness of SupplyGovernment Orders

Noon

Bloc

Guy André Bloc Berthier—Maskinongé, QC

Mr. Speaker, I will begin by advising you that I will be sharing my time with the hon. member for Abitibi—Témiscamingue, a colleague who is very familiar with the softwood lumber and forestry file.

It is with great interest that I rise to speak here today on this Bloc Québécois opposition day to address an issue that is very important for Quebec, of course, and all of Canada. Naturally, I am referring to the forestry crisis we are seeing in many areas of Quebec, as well as the Conservative government's refusal to take action on the matter.

The motion we moved here today denounces the Conservatives' failure to act in this file, and particularly the vastly inadequate measures included in the last budget. The motion also proposes to the government a series of measures to help the forestry industry.

While the forestry crisis persists throughout Quebec, the Conservative government's recent budget revealed that it remains completely insensitive to the difficulties facing that industry and the communities that are affected. When will this government understand that its approach is simply unacceptable in the context of the current crisis and that it must immediately start listening to and working with forestry stakeholders to help this industry get though these tough times?

The Quebec forestry industry accounts for nearly 88,000 jobs in various sawmills and pulp and paper plants, or about a third of all Canadian jobs in this sector. The economies of some 230 towns and villages in Quebec are heavily dependent on it, and 160 of them are totally dependent. The forestry industry is going through a severe downturn that poses a grave threat to many of these communities. Just between May 2002 and April 2005, more than 10,000 jobs were lost in the Quebec forestry industry. Since April 2005, the situation has only grown worse, with more than 21,000 job losses in the Quebec forestry industry and related areas.

Left to its own devices during the softwood lumber dispute, when the federal government refused to provide it with the loan guarantees it needed to stay afloat, the forestry industry was unable to face the mounting value of the Canadian dollar at the time. Forestry companies lost their competitive advantage on foreign markets, especially in the United States. Now the Quebec forestry industry has to deal with a U.S. economy that is slowing rapidly and is in crisis, resulting in a major reduction in timber sales and collapsing prices.

It may also be faced with surge in protectionist sentiment in the United States, which would further undermine sales south of the border. I recently attended the winter meeting of the National Governors Association in Washington. I had an opportunity to discuss some pressing issues, such as the trade in softwood lumber we are currently debating, with a number of U.S. governors and congressmen. We were told that some senators and governors from southern states were critical of U.S. imports of Canadian softwood lumber and were asking the American President “to take whatever action is necessary to fully address Canadian unfair trade practices in the softwood lumber sector”.

Even if these approaches to the American President are politically motivated, I think we need to be very vigilant. They show that there is a definite protectionist trend in the United States. As I was saying before, there is a major crisis in the forestry industry in Quebec and urgent action is needed at least to mitigate its effects. The government does not seem to understand this and is being negligent in providing assistance in its last budget that is not nearly enough, and I would even say, that is shameful and insulting.

With the support of the Liberals, the Conservative government provided the forestry sector with no more than a mere $170 million in its last budget. That is a disgrace. At the same time it decided, with the support of the Liberals and the Conservative members from Quebec, to invest more than $2.7 billion to support the automobile industry in Ontario. We are not opposed to this, but we think that the Quebec forestry industry is just as important, and even more important in terms of jobs. In the opinion even of the Québec Forest Industry Council, the $170 million that was announced over two years is far from enough and hardly reflects the needs flowing from the crisis in the Quebec forestry industry.

The Conservatives and the Liberals are showing their contempt for this industry which is the lifeblood for many Quebec regions. However, the Bloc Québécois is proposing a series of measures to support our forestry companies: loan guarantees for the purchase of more efficient production equipment; massive investments or tax measures to promote innovation; R and D for the industry; making the R and D tax credit refundable so that companies not turning a profit can innovate and develop new products.

In addition, it is important to mention that none of these measures contravenes the softwood lumber agreement, no matter what the Conservative minister says. For weeks, the Bloc Québécois has been asking the government and its Quebec ministers which section of the softwood lumber agreement prevents the federal government from providing loans and loan guarantees to the Quebec forestry industry. This government does not have an answer and chooses to ignore us. No one in the government, including the Minister of State (Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec) can quote the section in NAFTA or in the softwood lumber agreement.

Why? Because the agreement does not prohibit the use of loan guarantees. This position is shared by the Quebec Forest Industry Council and the Government of Quebec, which allowed Investissement Québec to provide guarantees.

The position of the Conservative government, including the Quebec MPs, only shows that it prefers to bow down to the U.S. protectionist lobbies that complain about the smallest initiative that will help the forestry sector. But above all, it proves that this government does not want to help Quebec's industry. During this time, what have Quebec Conservatives done? They have remained silent and have refused to stand up for Quebec.

In closing, this motion addresses the needs of the forestry industry and the communities that are dependent on it. For that reason I am asking that all members, especially Quebec members, support this motion.

Opposition Motion—Forestry IndustryBusiness of SupplyGovernment Orders

12:10 p.m.

Liberal

Geoff Regan Liberal Halifax West, NS

Madam Speaker, I would like to congratulate my colleague on his remarks and comments.

I would like to hear what he has to say on this topic. They have described the situation the forestry industry is in and talked about it. I agree with many of my colleague’s remarks about the subject. But we also notice that the government is suggesting that this is a new problem caused by the economic situation, when we know the industry has been struggling for two or three years or even longer.

Does my colleague agree that the government should have been doing more, much earlier?

In the 2007 budget that was approved by this House and Parliament, $4.6 billion was set aside by the government for investment in infrastructure, but it spent only $1 billion. This goes to show how little it cares about these problems. Does my colleague agree with me on this?

Opposition Motion—Forestry IndustryBusiness of SupplyGovernment Orders

12:10 p.m.

Bloc

Guy André Bloc Berthier—Maskinongé, QC

Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague for his question. It is true the problem in the forestry industry has been with us for some years. It started in May 2002 and lasted through the fall of 2006.

We still remember the softwood lumber crisis. Back then, we were asking the Liberal government for loan guarantees to support our industry. That is when we lost more than 10,000 jobs: between May 2002 and April 2005.

The crisis began then, and has continued ever since. The government in Ottawa, which once had a huge surplus, is now in a crisis itself and is doing nothing to help the forestry industry.

Opposition Motion—Forestry IndustryBusiness of SupplyGovernment Orders

12:10 p.m.

NDP

Bill Siksay NDP Burnaby—Douglas, BC

Madam Speaker, I am sure my colleague knows that British Columbia is also facing a crisis in the forestry industry. Over 30 sawmills in British Columbia have closed. Thousands of people have lost their jobs and many of our communities are really suffering.

One of the ironies of all of this is that at a time when people in the forestry industry in British Columbia are losing their jobs, there has been an increase in the export of raw logs, unfinished logs, out of the country. Instead of turning those logs into finished products of some kind, instead of manufacturing them into finished products in British Columbia and elsewhere in Canada, we are sending these raw logs out of the country.

I wonder if, like me, the member believes that we should restrict or even ban the export of raw logs to ensure that Canadian workers get a chance for a job turning those raw logs into products here in Canada.

Opposition Motion—Forestry IndustryBusiness of SupplyGovernment Orders

12:10 p.m.

Bloc

Guy André Bloc Berthier—Maskinongé, QC

Madam Speaker, that is a very good remark by my colleague. One of the options put forward by the Bloc Québécois is to change the federal tax system to help the development of secondary and tertiary transformation industries in the regions most affected by the forestry industry crisis. Obviously, British Columbia is also facing this ongoing crisis.

Opposition Motion—Forestry IndustryBusiness of SupplyGovernment Orders

12:10 p.m.

NDP

The Acting Speaker NDP Denise Savoie

The member for Abitibi—Témiscamingue for a very brief question.

Opposition Motion—Forestry IndustryBusiness of SupplyGovernment Orders

12:10 p.m.

Bloc

Marc Lemay Bloc Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC

Madam Speaker, I will come back to that.

I would like to ask my colleague a very brief question. In his speech, he said he had gone to Washington on a parliamentary mission and had had the opportunity to meet with senators who were talking about the return of protectionism.

I would like him to tell us a bit more about what that means and how they saw the risk of American protectionism in relation to the softwood lumber crisis here.

Opposition Motion—Forestry IndustryBusiness of SupplyGovernment Orders

12:10 p.m.

NDP

The Acting Speaker NDP Denise Savoie

The hon. member has less than 50 seconds.

Opposition Motion—Forestry IndustryBusiness of SupplyGovernment Orders

12:10 p.m.

Bloc

Guy André Bloc Berthier—Maskinongé, QC

Madam Speaker, less than 50 seconds. I will be quick. There is a protectionist measure in place. The industry is experiencing some problems in the United States, of course, but there is no question of jeopardizing the free trade agreement.

At the same time, our exports have decreased. We were exporting about 35% to the American market, but now, our share of the market has dropped to 22%. We still need to support our industry.

Opposition Motion—Forestry IndustryBusiness of SupplyGovernment Orders

12:15 p.m.

Bloc

Marc Lemay Bloc Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC

Madam Speaker, I will try not to get carried away during this debate, because I know our interpreters sometimes have a hard time translating what I say when I get carried away. I will try to stay calm, but this is a debate that quickly becomes emotional for me, because the Abitibi—Témiscamingue region has been hard hit by the softwood lumber crisis.

But first, Madam Speaker, I would like to congratulate you. I have not had the chance to speak in the House since you were appointed as deputy chair of committees of the whole, and for the time being, you are presiding over the work of the House. Congratulations.

That being said, I am extremely concerned about the softwood lumber situation. I will give some examples. I have a specific example of what is happening in our area. In 2006, we approached the Conservative government that had been elected. We will all recall that there was a softwood lumber crisis. At the time, when the softwood lumber agreement was signed, the NDP and the Liberals voted against it and we voted with the Conservatives to support the agreement. We supported the agreement for several reasons. First, because the workers, the employers and the municipalities asked us to, because otherwise they were all going to shut down. That is the nub of the problem. I may have the Minister’s answer, since he does not want to give an answer regarding the section that deals with the softwood lumber crisis and the reason why he does not want to give loan guarantees. We asked the government then and we are asking it again—we asked the Speaker and the Minister—to clarify the so-called anti-circumvention clause. I am going to speak a little on that subject.

I know I have only 10 minutes, but this is an extremely important clause and it was so vague. We told the government: “Be careful, this absolutely has to be clarified with officials at Canada Economic Development and the Department of International Trade,” because they are going to come back to us and say: “The assistance works like this, it does not work like that, and you cannot do that.” Here is an example. In Barraute, in Abitibi-Témiscamingue, there is a company that manufactures wood box springs for beds. That company asked for assistance from the federal government and CED said: “Listen, it is not clear. We do not know whether you are going to be able to ship that to the American market. If you ship that to the American market, it comes under the anti-circumvention clause and it might violate the agreement.”

That is the issue. The government absolutely has to help companies get through the crisis, and there are not a lot of ways of doing that, there is only one. These companies have to be given loan guarantees.

In my riding, there are Tembec, Abitibi Bowater, Kruger, Domtar and four independent companies. The first four I just named—I will repeat them: Domtar, Kruger, Abitibi Bowater and Tembec—are not doing well. They are actually on life support. We were expecting Abitibi Bowater to declare bankruptcy yesterday or today. That has not happened, luckily for us. But for us in Abitibi—Témiscamingue, this means more than 2,000 direct jobs. For a region with a population of 130,000, if we lose 2,000 direct jobs, plus another 4,000 indirect jobs, we have just shut down several villages. As it stands, Launay has shut down, Béarn has shut down.

My colleague from Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou will be talking about Lebel-sur-Quévillon again. But in my riding, I have to say that Tembec is not doing well. They have asked the federal government for assistance.

If the ministers on the other side could listen to me for 30 seconds—I am thinking about the Minister of Natural Resources, the Minister of State for the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec and especially theMinister of International Trade—if they could get together and understand that a situation like that is dangerous for our regions, then we would have made some progress. We might think they do not talk to one another. We might think that the ministers and departments find it very difficult to talk to one another.

I know this because we have worked with Tembec on applications to Canada Economic Development. CED told us it would help us, but Export Development Canada thinks that this would violate the softwood lumber agreement. That agreement has really hurt us. It was a negotiated agreement, but to use an expression from legal jargon, it was “with a gun to our head”. Sign it or you die. That is exactly what is happening now. We have proposed 15 measures that could be useful, and I am going to review a few of them for the benefit of my colleagues opposite.

The forestry resource could generate more jobs. Recovery is an option. Some companies, such as Cyclofor, in my riding, need help. When Cyclofor goes to cut blocks, it recovers everything left in the cutting area to the level of about three 3 centimetres of sediment and chips the residue. What does it do with the chips? They are not selling anymore. It has to transform them into something else. It needs help with research and development to come up with new products and find new uses.

I will not talk about stimulating the creation and development of new processing industries. This crisis may give some regions an opportunity to reassess and to change their tack. The forest is like a ship, and needs to change tack significantly in order to change the focus of its production. We must stop exporting 2x4s. This expression is understood in the forestry industry. At the moment, 2x4s are shipped out. Houses built there are transformed, and often the 2x4s leave Abitibi-Témiscamingue, head off to Toronto, cross over at Detroit and come back to be sold to us. This is unacceptable.

Our motion today encourages the government to do its homework. New product research and development must be stimulated. How? Personally, I sent three proposals to Canada Economic Development, for example. One department is not doing its job, and it is the Department of the Environment. That department could help the forestry industry hugely by assisting research on producing ethanol from forestry residues. Instead of making ethanol from corn, it could be made from forestry residue. The mills are there. The people are there who can work their way out of this.

I have another example. There is talk of establishing pellet mills, processing tiny bits of wood into the fuel used in slow-burning wood stoves. Pellets can be used in place of wood. One example is Écoflamme in Témiscamingue. Tembec has its head office there. If it fails, some 500 jobs will be lost and everything around it will close.

We are in a crisis. I will close by asking the government to be sensitive and concerned about the affected regions and to think about helping them.

The measures we have taken are vital. The government could hep us if it wanted to.

Opposition Motion—Forestry IndustryBusiness of SupplyGovernment Orders

12:25 p.m.

Conservative

Devinder Shory Conservative Calgary Northeast, AB

Madam Speaker, we all understand that our businesses are going through tough times. That includes the forestry industry as well.

Members know that the community adjustment fund announced in our economic action plan has been well received by workers, families and communities across Canada. The NDP and the Bloc obviously decided to vote against it, even without reading the document.

I would like to share with the House some of the feedback on the community development trust, and I would like the member's feedback on it.

After the Prime Minister announced the community development trust, the Premier of B.C. said:

The federal government has made a commitment to workers across the country.... I can tell you, it's an important step. It's an important step in building partnerships. It's an important step for workers.

Opposition Motion—Forestry IndustryBusiness of SupplyGovernment Orders

12:25 p.m.

Bloc

Marc Lemay Bloc Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC

Madam Speaker, I think that my colleague was not listening. This is a major crisis. We are facing a major crisis. If my colleague thinks that I did not read the document, he is wrong. I read it completely. When I see that $170 million is invested over two years to help the forestry industry get through the crisis and that, on the other hand, $2 billion is invested to help the automotive industry, I see a big problem.

The industry is not looking for handouts. It is looking for loans. My colleague for Lévis—Bellechasse should listen when I am speaking. The industry is looking for loans. It does not want cash. It is looking for loans.

Opposition Motion—Forestry IndustryBusiness of SupplyGovernment Orders

12:25 p.m.

NDP

Charlie Angus NDP Timmins—James Bay, ON

Madam Speaker, it is very clear why the Conservatives have zero support left in Quebec. Their position today is to try to portray that somehow they had nothing to do with this crisis, even though their decisions all along have continually undermined forestry.

They also have tried to portray this issue as though the opposition simply is not being positive enough with the state of this crisis, yet my hon. colleague and I represent these communities. They are vital communities, communities that were stable for many years, but they have gone down and they have seen absolutely no support from the government.

I want to ask my hon. colleague how credible he thinks the government is in saying that we simply need to be more positive in looking for other markets when it does not have any plan to deal with communities such as Malarctic, La Sarre, the region of Abitibi or the region of the James Bay.

Opposition Motion—Forestry IndustryBusiness of SupplyGovernment Orders

12:25 p.m.

Bloc

Marc Lemay Bloc Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC

Madam Speaker. I agree with my colleague. I will try to be less harsh. I am not saying that the government does not want to do anything. I am saying that the government does not seem to fully understand the impact of the crisis. If all the forestry industry workers were in the same place, the crisis would have the same impact as the crisis affecting the automotive industry in Windsor, in southern Ontario. The problem is that the forestry industry crisis affects small businesses spread out in many places, generally in small communities.

We are asking the government to show some sensitivity. When a business is forced to close down in a community of 200 people, it never comes back. That is why help is being requested. The industry is not asking for cash. It just wants loan guarantees.

Opposition Motion—Forestry IndustryBusiness of SupplyGovernment Orders

12:25 p.m.

Liberal

Geoff Regan Liberal Halifax West, NS

Madam Speaker, I will try to make it short. I appreciated the comments by my colleague from Abitibi—Témiscamingue. I agree that the government should have done more for the industry, not only to help it through these rough times, but also to help the people.

Does the hon. member agree with the recommendation of the Standing Committee on Natural Resources, whereby there should be greater investment in research and development? He touched on new technologies. Last year, I read an article in L'Actualité magazine about all the work and research currently being done in Quebec.

Opposition Motion—Forestry IndustryBusiness of SupplyGovernment Orders

12:30 p.m.

Bloc

Marc Lemay Bloc Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC

Madam Speaker, the answer is yes. Not only do I agree, but there has to be investment in research and development. Secondary and tertiary processing is essential. We have to stop selling nothing but 2x4s to the United States. We have to do the R and D, come up with new products, produce stronger doors and windows, et cetera. The entire future of the forestry industry depends on research and development.

Opposition Motion—Forestry IndustryBusiness of SupplyGovernment Orders

March 10th, 2009 / 12:30 p.m.

Roberval—Lac-Saint-Jean Québec

Conservative

Denis Lebel ConservativeMinister of State (Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec)

Madam Speaker, I am very pleased to rise today because it will help me set at least a few things straight. I will be sharing my time with the hon. member for Lévis—Bellechasse.

For a few weeks now, the Bloc and its allies have been engaging in another witch hunt, this time on the backs of workers in the forestry industry, in order to score political points. That is how they operate, as we all know, regardless of the subject or the people they use. They try to divide people, turn them against each other, in order to separate “us” from “them”.

Before and during the last election campaign, the favourite ploy of the Bloc and its allies was to set Quebec against Alberta. Now they are trying to turn Quebec against Ontario. It is always the same ploy, only the names change.

I myself am from one of the regions and return there every weekend. And every weekend, I am visiting the villages we are discussing today. The working people there know very well what they are facing and what we are doing for them. I can understand they want more. I am with them in the field every weekend. The economic health of my riding depends to a large extent on the forestry industry, which is currently in such difficulty. We are fully aware of the problems that the families of working people have been dealing with for several years now. People should not be fooled, though, and take as gospel truth what the Bloc and company say because their real aim is to divide people, stir up quarrels regardless of what they are about, in order to promote their desire to separate Quebec from Canada and get elected or re-elected.

This crisis is nothing new, as we all know. There has been a crisis in the Quebec forestry industry for a number of years, as can easily be seen by the general context. First there was the Coulombe report, which recommended a 20% reduction in the allowable cut. Then there was the chief forester, who basically confirmed this and even imposed more in percentage terms for certain regions and species. A northern limit was also imposed. In addition, there have been the anti-forestry campaigns of Greenpeace and other groups. We have also had all the losses due to the pine beetle in western Canada and the spruce budworm.

There were a lot of other factors as well, including the changes in the value of the Canadian dollar, the cost of energy, corporate mergers, and the falling prices of wood and paper. These have not all been under the control of a single government.

The current problem with plant closures is linked to market conditions. No company ever closed down plants because they were selling too much. The problem we are facing now has to do with the markets where we sell our products. Ninety-six percent of the softwood lumber exported by Quebec goes to the United States. Eighty-three percent of Canadian lumber goes to the United States. More than a million houses are now up for sale in the United States, and it is easy to see what the impact is on our forestry industry.

Considering all these factors, one understands why, since it was elected in 2006, our Conservative government has adopted a series of measures to support forestry workers. The government’s actions since we came into office must be looked at as a whole, and particularly within our limits for intervention, since the largest part of the forestry sector comes under provincial jurisdiction. Our possible areas of intervention include secondary and tertiary processing, innovative projects—research was mentioned earlier—and the development of new markets, which is essential. Everyone in this House knows that but ignores it when it comes time to assign blame.

Even before tabling Canada’s economic action plan, on January 27, our Conservative government had settled the softwood lumber dispute, which produced $5 billion for the forestry industry, including $1 billion for Quebec, while at the same time ensuring stability for the workers who depend on this sector.

We also took other measures, while respecting the agreement with our American partners. We reduced the fiscal burden on Canadians by $200 billion. We established the community development trust with funding of $1 billion, of which $217 million was allocated for Quebec. We invested $72 million in targeted support for older workers.

In the 2008 budget we added another $90 million and in our economic action plan, we provided an additional $60 million for older workers. We set aside $127 million for innovation and development of new markets. We know how valuable innovation and new markets are.

In our January 27 economic action plan, we added $170 million in support for innovative projects and development of new markets. We have established a $1 billion community adjustment fund to assist communities affected by the economic crisis, and more than $200 million of that will go to Quebec.

That, of course, includes forestry communities that are seeking to diversify their economies and to offer new work opportunities for young people living in those areas.

We have also introduced a green infrastructure fund, which includes forestry biomass and new energy sources, and measures to encourage renovation and construction that should stimulate the demand for lumber.

I am also very proud that our plan responds to the immediate needs of workers and communities. We have targeted an amount of $8.3 billion to help Canadian workers, through improved employment insurance benefits and increased access to training. For example, we have provided an additional $500 million for claimants in long-term training programs. We are also extending work sharing agreements by 14 weeks to a new maximum of 52 weeks. This program is very popular and much appreciated at this time in all regions of Quebec and the entire country.

In addition to freezing employment insurance premiums, we have extended the eligibility period by five weeks to help workers who have lost their jobs over a long period. Our economic action plan also provides more money to help companies through Export Development Canada, which works with some 90% of the forestry companies in Canada.

Mr. Avrim Lzar, president and CEO of the Forest Products Association of Canada, in other words for the entire country, had this to say about the budget:

“The government has clearly heard the message and embraced our vision of becoming the producers of the best quality, most innovative and greenest forest products in the world. And it understands that in order to get there Canada needs to attract investment and secure the jobs of nearly 300,000 skilled Canadians forest workers and the communities they work in... We are very encouraged by the budget measures aimed at ensuring access to credit for Canadian businesses, particularly the expansion of the powers and financing authorities of the EDC, and we look forward to working with the government to determine how these measures can help our companies and workers .

I would remind hon. members that Mr. Lazar represents a large number of Canadian forestry companies, including AbitibiBowater, Canfor, Kruger, Louisiana-Pacific Canada, Tembec, Weyerhaeuser Company, to name but a few. If anyone wonders how important Mr. Lazar is in the world of Canadian forestry products, he is the head of the largest Canadian association.

So we have proof that it is as false as false can be to claim that the government has not done all it could in this sad situation. What is more, it must be noted that the arbitration ruling on softwood lumber has just been brought down, on February 26, and requires Canada, the provinces and the forestry companies to pay $68 million in penalties, and this is a ruling that cannot be appealed. This ought to serve as a reminder of how cautious we need to be when dealing with the forestry industry as well as a reminder of the softwood lumber agreement.

So we must keep in mind that caution is of the essence. Mr. Lazar has also said: —the government cannot do much without the risk of creating new problems at the border”. In his opinion, any direct aid following the model of the assistance given to the auto industry might jeopardize the industry's access to the US market, and that must be avoided at all cost.

I would add one more thing: the forestry sector is, of course, the industries, but it is more than that. It is a natural resource. It is workers, independent contractors, loggers, truckers, and many other people who are often our friends or family members. We are working every day to find better solutions to help those families, and we will continue to do so.

I would like to end with a reminder of something that is of the utmost importance. The Bloc and its allies have chosen to play petty politics at the expense of the workers. That is their choice. I will not play their game, because I feel it is more appropriate to work with people who are looking for solutions to the world economic difficulties that are having repercussions here. I am in favour of bringing people together, not dividing them.

I must, however, reply to the Bloc members, and in particular the hon. member for Chicoutimi—Le Fjord. Can you name a single project or a single job that has been created by your actions , with the exception of your own job and those of the people who work for you, since you became a member? Obviously the answer is as simple as it is short: no. As for me, my priority is people, not partisan interests.

Opposition Motion—Forestry IndustryBusiness of SupplyGovernment Orders

12:40 p.m.

NDP

The Acting Speaker NDP Denise Savoie

I would like to remind the hon. minister that he should be addressing his comments to the Chair rather than to members of the House.

The hon. member for Chicoutimi—Le Fjord.

Opposition Motion—Forestry IndustryBusiness of SupplyGovernment Orders

12:40 p.m.

Bloc

Robert Bouchard Bloc Chicoutimi—Le Fjord, QC

Madam Speaker, I am pleased to see that the Minister of State (Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec) and member for Roberval—Lac-Saint-Jean has decided to say something. He had been silent for quite a while.

Since he quoted some people, I would also like to quote some people in his riding and his region who made statements about support for the forestry industry.

Mr. Michel Routhier, president of the labour council of the FTQ in Lac-Saint-Jean, said the budget is not helping the forestry industry.

Mr. Robert Dionne, president of the Quebec association of logging equipment owners, said his members are worried. They are scrambling to stay afloat.

The owner of Entreprises Alain Michaud, of Saint-Ludger-de-Milot, in the member's own riding, complains about the lack of support from the government.

Mr. Bernard Généreux said this about the member for Roberval—Lac-Saint-Jean, “It is a matter of bad faith or lack of imagination.”

My question is for the minister—

Opposition Motion—Forestry IndustryBusiness of SupplyGovernment Orders

12:40 p.m.

NDP

The Acting Speaker NDP Denise Savoie

I would like the minister to be able to answer. The member must ask his question quickly.

Opposition Motion—Forestry IndustryBusiness of SupplyGovernment Orders

12:40 p.m.

Bloc

Robert Bouchard Bloc Chicoutimi—Le Fjord, QC

Madam Speaker, here is my question. Has the minister heard any forestry industry worker or business owner tell him he was satisfied with what the Conservative government has put in place—

Opposition Motion—Forestry IndustryBusiness of SupplyGovernment Orders

12:40 p.m.

NDP