$4.6 million financial assistance

Saint-Raymond, Quebec, June 29, 2010 – The Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of State for Canada Economic Development, Nathalie Normandeau, Deputy Premier, Minister of Natural Resources and Wildlife, and Minister responsible for the Northern Plan, and Michel Matte, MNA for Portneuf, have confirmed a federal and provincial contribution of $4.6 million for the Forest Products Traceability Program. This investment is being provided in part by both levels of government. The Quebec Wood Export Bureau, better known by the acronym Q-WEB, has a mandate to set up the program.

“The forest is central to our concerns. That is why we are undertaking unprecedented action to assist communities affected by the present crisis in the forest sector, through means such as the Forest Products Traceability Program. The $2,350,000 we are investing will do more than get the economy back on track. We are working to improve our long-term forestry capital so it will generate numerous and better jobs,” explained the Honourable Denis Lebel.

“Our government is pleased to invest $2,250,000 in this program. This initiative will permit companies to receive technical and operational support to establish traceability chains in their organizations. Simply put, traceability systems make it possible to trace the origins of wood contained in products, to prove that wood is from a certified forest and to demonstrate that it meets access requirements for different markets. This will boost the supply of certified Quebec products on various export markets, while improving the competitiveness of our industry,” said Ms. Normandeau.

Forests are vital to the economy in many of Quebec’s regions. In 2009, the industry exported nearly 8 billion Canadian dollars worth of wood products to all markets, accounting for close to 13% of total Quebec exports. This financial contribution by the Government of Quebec and the Government of Canada will support activities that ensure a thriving forest industry.

“I am extremely pleased that this announcement is taking place in a sawmill in my riding, where the raw material supply has been consolidated. This announcement demonstrates once again that both our governments are supporting the forest industry and that our industry is forward-looking. This is more good news for Portneuf, where the forest is so important,” concluded Mr. Matte.

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Sources:

Marie-France Boulay
Press secretary
Office of the Deputy Premier, the Minister of Natural Resources and Wildlife and the Minister responsible for the Northern Plan
Tel.: 418-643-7295

Nicole Gingras
Political attaché
MNA for Portneuf
Tel.: 418-268-3860

Ève Cardinal
Special Assistant, Communications
Office of the Honourable Denis Lebel 
Canada Economic Development 
Tel.: 819-997-3319