Mr. Speaker, it is an honour to rise today to table e-petition 6530. This petition was signed by 781 Canadians who are deeply concerned about the future of our forestry sector. These petitioners point out that forestry has long provided good jobs in both rural and urban communities but now faces devastating challenges ranging from wildfires and insect infestations to the ongoing softwood lumber dispute and the Trump tariffs.
The petitioners stress that forest biomass energy production presents a sustainable opportunity to power Canadian electrical grids with clean energy while creating new jobs, yet the government's failure to implement biomass tax incentives has left the sector at a clear competitive disadvantage compared to the United States. The petitioners therefore call on the government to finally, in this 2025 fall budget, commit to passing the proposed biomass component of the clean technology investment tax credit that was highlighted in the fall economic statement of 2023. This is to protect Canadian forestry jobs and strengthen our economy.