CRISIS IN THE QUEBEC FOREST INDUSTRY - PROBLEMS AND POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS

Despite the revival of the past months, the forest industry in Quebec has gone through very rough times since the beginning of the nineties. These serious difficulties cannot only be attributed to a worldwide economic recession. They also reflect a deep structural crisis particular to this industry. Evolving on a global commondity market without a clear competing edge, Quebec forest industry requires a colossal modernization effort. This effort should not be applied only to machinery but also to the management strategies which firms are pursuing. Better targeted markets, increased environmental concerns, renewed partner-ship-with workers and restructuring schemes defined accordingly to a full employment policy represent ideas which must be translated in tangible initiatives to get out of the crisis.