House of Commons photoLost his last election, in 2011, with 29% of the vote.
Forestry Industry March 12th, 2009
By giving credence to the protectionism of the U.S. forestry industry, the Minister for Economic Development is contradicting the position taken by Canadian lawyers at the London Court.
Does the chief lobbyist for the U.S. in this House realize that by refusing to provide loan guarantees he is killing the forestry industry in Quebec regions, not just his but mine as well?
Forestry Industry March 12th, 2009
Mr. Speaker, the forestry industry is asking for loan guarantees because liquidity is dangerously low. This morning, at the Subcommittee on Canadian Industrial Sectors, all Quebec forestry representatives indicated that loan guarantees are legal under the softwood lumber agreement and important to their survival.
Instead of sticking to their ideology, will the Conservatives respond to the alarm sounded by the forestry industry and finally provide loan guarantees?
Forestry Industry March 10th, 2009
Mr. Speaker, this morning, at the Standing Committee on Finance, Eric Siegel, president and CEO of Export Development Canada, stated that his organization had given loan guarantees to the forestry industry, this in compliance with the NAFTA treaty and the softwood lumber agreement.
Instead of hiding his groveling by using false legal excuses, will the minister follow EDC's example, stand up for his region and provide the forestry industry with loans and loan guarantees?
Business of Supply March 10th, 2009
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—
Business of Supply March 10th, 2009
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—
Business of Supply March 10th, 2009
Mr. Speaker, there is an excellent suggestion. Treating our forests like gardens is the way we should be proceeding. These are the measures that should be pushed forward. Let us not forget that in Quebec, and in many other provinces, the operators of private woodlots could make their forests much more productive, to the benefit of the forestry industry.
Business of Supply March 10th, 2009
Mr. Speaker, it would indeed be interesting to have a support plan for the provinces in the area of silviculture. It would be a way to manage the forest and make it more productive.
The hon. member gives me the opportunity to talk about the concerns of wood producers in Quebec. They want to get help to manage the forest and a program or tax measures to average their income. The federal government should have agreements with the provinces in order to set up a plan to help the development of silviculture in public and private forests.
Business of Supply March 10th, 2009
Mr. Speaker, the hon. member asked why the government let down an industry as important as the forestry industry and why it did not support it. It is clear for everybody to see that, unfortunately, the government simply dropped this industry. It chose to support only one sector, the auto industry. It should have taken into account the fact that the forestry industry provides many more jobs. I am not against supporting the auto industry and its jobs, but there are many more jobs in the forestry industry, and it seems to me that the federal government should have had a real plan to help this sector.
In the motion before us, we are making a few suggestions. If the four options put forward in this motion were taken into consideration, we would do the forest industry a great service.
Business of Supply March 10th, 2009
Mr. Speaker, the hon. member is talking about support and about support programs, but she should take a closer look at the budget and compare a few things. For example, the support for the auto industry stands at $2.7 billion, but there is only a meagre $170 million for the forestry industry throughout Canada. It is clearly not enough. The hon. member being from a province with a big forestry industry, she really has a duty to convince her government that it should provide a real support plan for the forest industry throughout Canada and in Quebec.
Business of Supply March 10th, 2009
Mr. Speaker, I specified in my remarks that it will be $170 million over two years for all of Canada, including Quebec. This money that was included in the Conservative government’s budget is just for marketing and also to support a number of existing programs. This is not new money, and it is clearly not enough.