Quebec's forest industry will be helping to rebuild Haiti.
They will provide $2 million of wood for the construction of 2000 housing units adapted for the climate and needs of Haiti.
Herve Deschenes of FP Innovations says Haiti cannot be rebuilt with the same materials and standards as existed before last month's earthquake.
"I can't imagine a mother or father bringing his kids to the room at night in the same environment in the same building, built with the same materials," said Deschenes.
They'd like to send modular houses similar to what was built for Indonesia following the 2004 tsunami.
The modules could also be put together to build a school.
Quebec companies are offering the lumber because Haiti has been almost totally deforested, and will call on other industries to provide doors and windows, and on the governments to pay the cost of building the modules and shipping them to the Caribbean.
While the early government reaction has been positive, the companies involved are not waiting for a government initiative.
"We wait for the government and then no industry will want to give," said Sylvain Labbe of Quebec's Wood Export Bureau. "We give now a commitment and we wait for government. It's chicken and eggs."
Other provinces may join the project, and the forest industry in other countries is interested in making a contribution.
The idea is sure to be discussed at March's international conference on rebuilding Haiti.
