Quebec announces first wood auctions

May 10, 2011, Québec City – The first wood
auction is being conducted by Quebec’s Wood Marketing Office (Bureau de mise en
marché des bois, BMMB). Some 240,000 cubic meters of wood from forests in
Quebec are available, and interested buyers can obtain tender documents posted
on the BMMB website.

"The free market will encourage innovation of wood in the forest sector
and the competitiveness of our companies that will acquire wood at a fair
price,” says Nathalie Normandeau, Deputy Premier, Minister of Natural Resources
and Wildlife, and Minister responsible for the Northern Plan. “It is important
that the forest sector partners and entrepreneurs throughout Quebec seize the
opportunities offered by the new forestry regime. The auctioning of the first
volumes of timber is a first in Quebec and is an important step in the new
forest plan."

The Law on Sustainable Forest Management, introduced in April 2010, provides
several fundamental changes in forest management in Quebec. The Wood Marketing
Office will be responsible for the sale on the open market of 20–25% of wood
from forests in Quebec starting in April 2013. Although the new forestry regime
will not be officially established until April 1, 2013, certain provisions of
the new law will be in force since its sanction, such as the creation of the
Wood Marketing Office.

Up to 240,000 cubic meters of coniferous species and hardwoods are offered at
auction. They come from 12 separate lots in three territories: South-West
(Outaouais and Laurentides), South Central (Mauricie and Eastern Townships),
and North Central (Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean). Larger volumes (800,000 cubic
metres) will be available in all regions of Quebec in fall 2011. Buyers
interested in the 12 pending sales may submit offers from April 27 to June 9,
2011 using information and materials provided on the BMMB website:
bmmb.gouv.qc.ca.