Natural Resources committee  Yes, absolutely, we are the main player in the primary processing forest industry. That's correct.

Natural Resources committee  Obviously we weren't consulted as such. As Mr. Lazar said, when you want to help a community, you don't necessarily do that by helping the workers who have lost their jobs, but rather by ensuring that workers don't lose their jobs. That said, the QFIC is not opposed to the assis

Natural Resources committee  Mr. Simon will answer the question.

Natural Resources committee  The answer is quite simple: the associations have not been consulted at all. Let me speak on behalf of the Quebec Forest Industry Council; we have not been consulted at all. Had we been consulted, I would have said exactly the same as Mr. Lazar: the best way to help a worker is

Natural Resources committee  Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Our address will be in two parts; Mr. Simon will handle the second part. The Quebec forest industry has a turnover of $13 billion a year and provides direct, indirect and induced employment for nearly 200,000 persons. More than 350 plants are part of th

Natural Resources committee  Our plants are too small. In the sawmilling field, the average Quebec plant is one-third the size of that in British Columbia. Consequently, our fixed operating costs are much higher, which makes us less internationally competitive. Lastly, in the past seven years, Quebec forest