Government Operations committee  I do not see how it could violate international agreements. We are asking neither for subsidies nor price cuts. We simply want to be given a chance and have our say in the matter, something we don't have at this time. I was listening to witnesses from the Canadian Construction Association say that they have no objection to the use of wood.

Government Operations committee  There are no two places where it's the same. In some countries, there is a policy in place on the use of wood. In others, regulations require a certain percentage of wood—10%, 15% or 20%—to be used for the construction of public buildings. It's highly variable. In Sweden, for example, it took a very long time before they were able to start building bridges.

Government Operations committee  I interpreted it--

Government Operations committee  I understood it to mean at equal cost. That's why I used the word “equity” a little earlier. If certain words bother you, the dictionary is filled with synonyms. I have no objection to using a synonym that garners the greatest possible support. However, people should not be out there saying they're in favour of something when they actually oppose it and are not the least bit interested in making changes.

Government Operations committee  I thought I would have as much time as this lady here to complete my statement. Thank you.

Government Operations committee  Good morning and thank you for the invitation to appear. I wasted no time answering it. I would like to begin by saying that I do not appear before the Committee today with the intention of denigrating other construction materials. Rather, I am here to talk about the advantages and benefits of wood as a construction material, particularly in public buildings.

Subcommittee on Canadian Industrial Sectors committee  Your resolution restates our demands very clearly. I spoke at length with Stockwell Day barely two weeks ago. In view of the details we've given you this morning, that vote in Parliament should be unanimous.

Subcommittee on Canadian Industrial Sectors committee  I would like to repeat that we have to stop fearing the lumber agreement and ask ourselves if we want a forest industry. If that is the case, let's take the steps to save it. For your information, in Quebec, which is in the midst of a major crisis, there are 700 projects under review by research centres in Quebec and Canada, the CRIQ, PFInnovations, FERIC and Paprican.

Subcommittee on Canadian Industrial Sectors committee  Yes, and what is more, I think it will soon be in effect at the provincial level. Between you and me, in many cases, the industry guaranteed loans for our skidders. It's as clear as that. Going back to what Renaud said, we claim that 2,000 to 3,000 young graduates won't be around for the recovery because they won't want to wait eight to 10 months to find another job and will leave the regions.

Subcommittee on Canadian Industrial Sectors committee  Mr. Vincent can supplement my answer. I would say that the federal government is currently giving QWEB an enormous amount of help in opening other markets. We are currently operating in China and trying to add a wooden storey to their small concrete houses that would capture humidity and could play a promising role in promoting health.

Subcommittee on Canadian Industrial Sectors committee  Briefly, I will answer that we won all the judgments on Lumber IV. We left $1 billion on the table. Remember the signing of the agreement. After winning all the judgments, we're stuck with a $68 million penalty.

Subcommittee on Canadian Industrial Sectors committee  I'm going to let you select the terms you want to use, but what troubles me is that, as a result of fear regarding the softwood lumber agreement, we're about to ask ourselves whether we want an industry in Canada, on the pretext that no one can grant loans at a commercial rate, a legal rate, a market rate, and even the provinces will be forced to consider whether we want to have a forest industry in Canada that creates 825,000 jobs.

Subcommittee on Canadian Industrial Sectors committee  Yes, some are through the cooperation of one minister.

Subcommittee on Canadian Industrial Sectors committee  We can't blackmail you into providing assistance. We can't threaten you with producing somewhere else, like Chrysler and Ford, in the automotive industry do when they say they'll shift their production to the United States.

Subcommittee on Canadian Industrial Sectors committee  Yes, some products have been launched, of course.