Natural Resources committee  At that time, the stock, Mr. Harris, was already in place. The stock was available at any of the greenhouses as well as the planting beds.

Natural Resources committee  Sure. It was negotiated in the spring of 2009, shortly after the community adjustment fund was announced. The $200 million program essentially was a cost-shared program between the Government of Canada through the community adjustment fund, which was led by Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions and the Province of Quebec.

Natural Resources committee  Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Allen, the value to wood program is made up of two elements. One is a research and development element, to try to move the research along a bit more quickly to those who can use it. But the second and probably the more attractive element is what we call the technology transfer part of it.

Natural Resources committee  Exactly. I would suggest FPInnovations. They have a website, they have offices in Quebec City, Pointe-Claire, and Vancouver. From that, I think you could get the names and the locations of the closest industry adviser to advise any firms that may be interested in participating.

Natural Resources committee  Thank you, Mr. Chair. Of the $200 million that was dedicated to the pine beetle, roughly 50% was around economic adjustment for communities, and the other 50%, $100 million, was with our department for slowing the spread as well as community protection.

Natural Resources committee  By the end of this year—I wanted to clarify, because $100 million is actually within our department, and of that $100 million, by the end of the year roughly 90% will have been committed—

Natural Resources committee  It's not within our department. It is shared between Western Diversification and Transport Canada. I can get you those figures, though.

Natural Resources committee  Yes.

Natural Resources committee  I'll maybe defer to Mr. Harris on that, as he lives closer to the beetles than I do. But when we speak about beetles we're talking about billions of them. The numbers are actually quite staggering, and the extent of the infestation in terms of the numbers of trees goes into the millions as well.

Natural Resources committee  Thank you, Mr. Chair. Actually, that is correct. There are funds from both of those envelopes that are dedicated specifically to a research and development agenda that's developed in partnership with the Food Inspection Agency as well as the Province of Nova Scotia, to better define some of the scientific issues in terms of the outbreak, to better forecast spread, as well as to give advice to CFIA around issues like the quarantine zone, the ministerial order.

Natural Resources committee  I could get back to the committee specifically on that number. It's around $3 million or so, but I will get back with a specific number. There are contributions from our own department, as well as the Food Inspection Agency, to bring that program together.

Natural Resources committee  Mr. Chair, could I respond to that? It's currently not designed as a fund that's out there for a request for proposals. It's a partnership fund designed around four or five key priorities with FPInnovations. The board of FPInnovations comprises industry members from across Canada, the provinces, and some academic people as well.

Natural Resources committee  Thank you for the question. The funds are delivered through FPInnovations and through their own staff. For example, they are expanding their presence in Atlantic Canada, and more specifically through some of the universities, like the University of New Brunswick. For example, the UNB wood products research group is actively engaged in our Value to Wood program.

Natural Resources committee  FPInnovations is made up of four divisions, and one of those divisions is the Forest Engineering Research Institute of Canada. Their focus is harvesting and transportation. They're looking at all kinds of ways to essentially reduce the cost and minimize the environmental impact of transportation.

Natural Resources committee  Perhaps I could talk about FPInnovations as a model. The board of directors is made up of representatives of most of the provinces as well as many of the primary and secondary industries, plus the federal government. There's a great deal of discussion at that level to try to reconcile the most effective way to deliver regional value and regional programs.