Thank you, Madam Chair. It's good to be at committee.
After nine years and three U.S. presidents, Trudeau and the Liberals have failed to get a deal with the Americans on softwood lumber. Under our former prime minister, Stephen Harper, we got a deal done within 80 days of becoming a government and his becoming prime minister.
A mill manager in northeastern B.C. who wishes to remain anonymous said the main reasons mills have had to close are political decisions. The trees are still there to support a vibrant sustainable forest industry. However, they said access to those trees has been heavily restricted. The combined impact of these political decisions is estimated to have reduced the area available for harvesting by 50%, and based on where these areas are located, the impact on the annual allowable cut will be greater than 50%.
This is enough of an impact to cause the closure of two of five mills in the Peace, in my riding, costing the area $100 million annually, and that is just in logging and hauling. That's a very limited part of what forestry impacts in my community. Some may have heard of the Prime Minister's goals of 30 by 30 and 50 by 50. There's the effect such a radical policy will have, especially on forestry.
My question is for you, Mr. Niquidet.
Will there be any forestry jobs left in northeastern B.C. if the federal and provincial governments' restrictions and closures are fully implemented?