Mr. Speaker, in the 1980s and 1990s, 72 million trees were planted on privately held forest land through a federal forest development program in eastern Quebec.
Today these trees are between 20 and 30 years old and in need of maintenance work in order to preserve their value, but the federal government has not announced any follow-up program.
On the eve of the budget, private forest owners have expectations. They need support in order to proceed with the required maintenance work and develop the wood.
Will the government support them, or will it allow a $100 million investment to rot away?