The Quebec Minister of Forests, Maïté Blanchette Vézina, describes as “astonishing” Ottawa’s refusal to modify the 2 billion trees program to allow Quebec to harvest part of its fruits. According to her, cutting down trees can have “positive effects” on the decarbonization of the atmosphere.
In interview with The duty, Monday, the elected representative of the Coalition Avenir Québec defended her desire to “relax” the federal program to allow the harvest of a portion of the trees planted since its launch. On Friday, his counterpart in Ottawa, Jonathan Wilkinson, rejected his request outright, arguing that 2 billion trees, an initiative dated 2021, “will not finance[it] not projects that plant trees for the sole purpose of cutting or harvesting them.”
“It is certainly very surprising, on the part of the federal government, to have such a closed position, especially in the post-forest fire context,” said Mr.me Blanchette Vézina Monday.
“The tree that we don’t cut down, well, it can emit CO2 at the end of its useful life, when it falls or rots. Harvesting it, if we put it in a building, it has been proven that it can become a carbon sink, also pointed out the Minister of Natural Resources and Forests. The effect is positive on decarbonization. »
Last week, the elected CAQ member pulled out all the stops by sending a letter to Ottawa and unanimously having a motion adopted in the National Assembly and then transmitting it to the federal government.
In her missive addressed to Minister Wilkinson and co-signed by more than 150 forestry groups, municipalities and forestry unions, she urged the federal government to “review the provision requiring that planted trees cannot be harvested in the long term and transformed into construction materials. green construction”. She also asked “that the trees reforested as part of the 2 billion trees program be added to the forestry possibilities of the regions most affected by the forest fires” in the summer of 2023 — Abitibi-Témiscamingue and Nord-du -Quebec, in particular.
Then, on Thursday, the National Assembly spoke with one voice so that Ottawa “relaxed” its program and “respected” Quebec jurisdiction over natural resources. Impossible, replied Mr. Wilkinson, while recalling that his government had promised more than a billion dollars “to fight against forest fires” and support the forestry sector.
“We won’t harvest next year”
Since its launch three years ago, 2 Billion Trees has financed the addition of “more than 110 million” new plants across Canada, Justin Trudeau’s government reported in its latest count, published in August.
Designed “to combat the double crisis represented by climate change and the loss of biodiversity”, the program does not provide for the industry to be able to harvest the trees produced from it. “They come and tell us: ‘Listen, no, you won’t be able to use our funding, unless you sign with your blood that these trees will never be harvested, for eternity,’” illustrated the president and director. General of the Forest Industry Council, Jean-François Samray.
In a context where last summer’s forest fires disrupted the industry’s silvicultural forecasts, François Legault’s government criticizes Ottawa for being inflexible. Especially since no cutting would take place for decades, assures the Minister of Natural Resources and Forests. “It is certain that next year we will not harvest trees that were launched as part of 2 billion trees,” she said.
“Forest lobby”
In interview with The duty, Monday, the general director of the Quebec section of the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, Alain Branchaud, made a point of recalling that “the 2 billion trees program was really there to increase the plant cover, then make Restoration “. According to him, the “enormous pressure that the forestry lobby is putting” on the Quebec government at the moment is not unrelated to the exit of Minister Blanchette Vézina.
“We know that the strategy [sur la sauvegarde du] caribou will have an impact on forestry possibilities. So, I think we are trying by all means to maintain the significant funding that the State puts into the forestry industry, through all kinds of mechanisms,” he analyzed.
Mme Blanchette Vézina assures that the Chief Forester of Quebec is there to “ensure balance” in the cutting and reforestation of forests. Jean-François Samray reiterates for his part that “these trees will remain there for at least 70 years, because they are part of sustainable forest management”.
Despite Minister Wilkinson’s dismissal, Minister Blanchette Vézina assures that she maintains a “collaborative relationship” with her counterpart. “As with other subjects for which we sometimes have refusals, I will continue to defend our position,” she said on Monday.