I would like to close by saying that we believe this is a time of opportunity for the Government of Canada to promote the forest industry as environmentally forward thinking and part of the green economy, to create investment in the management of our forest resources and to remove barriers to forest stewardship.

It contains measures for all sectors of the economy and will provide assistance in four fields: - The development and diversification of agricultural and forestry production The aims are to consolidate and rejuvenate holdings and assist farmers to adapt to changes in agricultural markets by improving product quality, diversifying production and developing non-farming activities and new ways of using the countryside.

- 2 - DEVELOPMENT PRIORITIES In the light of an analysis of the region and its potential a development strategy has been drawn up centring on the following development priorities: a) Modernizing the agricultural sector as a whole with a view to improved land use (measures to combat erosion in particular) and stabilization of the population (increasing incomes by modernizing farms and developing multiple job-holding). b) Protecting environmental resources and exploiting them more effectively through the development of a diversified tourist sector. c) Consolidating the craft trades and the industrial fabric of the IMP areas, and encouragin ...[+++]g the emergence of services enabling them to gear themselves more to the economy of the lowland areas.

The cooperative sector is often the first to respond to important economic and social challenges: financing for the forestry program; financing for immigrants, including an immigrant welcoming program; business interventions; governance training for boards; worker buyouts and business succession; and health care and education solutions.