QUEBEC -- Resolute Forest Products Inc. has responded to the proposal put forth by FSC International on 17 December 2015, to launch a mediation process between interested parties with the goal of identifying solutions to forest management issues in the Canadian boreal forest, the company announced. The proposal follows Resolute's expression of concern regarding the viability of FSC certification in Canada given several significant challenges.

Resolute said it firmly believes that any mediation process concerning forest management in Quebec or Ontario must be led by the respective provincial governments, as they are clearly responsible for issues related to forest management planning. Resolute said that these issues include the resolution of disputes between First Nations and the implementation of a caribou conservation strategy, both of which are cited as key areas of focus in FSC International's proposal. According to an article published in Le Quotidien, it is not clear whether the Quebec government would be willing to participate in such a process.

"Beyond the leadership of the provincial governments, it is critical that all of the parties impacted by forestry activities in the boreal forest be involved in any discussion concerning certification," said Richard Garneau, president and chief executive officer of Resolute. "This includes First Nations, local communities and unions. Of course, we believe that environmental groups should have a voice in the process. Greenpeace, the only ENGO mentioned in FSC's proposal, has been engaged in a campaign of misinformation targeting Resolute. We believe it would be more appropriate to engage with responsible organizations with a track record of constructive engagement in the public policy discourse, to ensure that the process is neutral and fair."

Resolute said it has not been alone in expressing concerns about the viability of FSC certification in Canada. On 28 October 2015, the Québec Forest Industry Council (QFIC) sent letters expressing concerns to FSC Canada as well as to Laurent Lessard, Quebec's Minister of Forests, Wildlife and Parks. On 18 November 2015, the Ontario Forest Industries Association (OFIA) sent a letter to Bill Mauro, Ontario's Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry, voicing similar concerns. And on 30 November 2015, during an FSC International forum in Bonn, Germany, Minister Lessard called for a resolution to the issues.

A growing number of Canadian companies have seen their FSC certificates suspended or terminated in recent months, including Arbec, Eacom and, as recently as yesterday, Domtar, for a tenure in Ontario. In October 2015, the Coast Forest Conservation Initiative (CFCI) voluntarily terminated its FSC certificate for the Great Bear Rainforest in British Columbia, an area totaling nearly 850,000 hectares.

These developments are indicative of a need to address the significant challenges facing FSC and its membership. Resolute looks forward to participating fully, under government leadership, in any process that is neutral, inclusive and transparent in the hopes of identifying solutions that benefit all concerned.