Mr. Speaker, it is a huge honour to table this petition, which was signed by mill workers at the Domtar Catalyst mill in Port Alberni.
The petitioners highlight that Canada's forestry industry has historically been a source of good jobs for rural communities. The forestry industry has faced multiple challenges in recent years that have led to significant job losses, including wildfires, infestations and the ongoing softwood lumber dispute. The U.S. trade policy poses a serious threat to Canada's forestry industry, as well as the communities it supports, such as Port Alberni.
Forest biomass energy production has the potential to provide Canadian electrical grids with a sustainable source of energy while creating jobs for rural communities. Canada's failure to implement biomass tax incentives has left our forestry sector at a competitive disadvantage compared to the U.S.
The petitioners call on the Government of Canada to commit to the timely passage of a biomass tax credit to support Canadian forestry workers, which was in the 2023 fall economic statement, and increase federal funding for market expansion programs to find new customers for Canadian wood products and construction systems.