Media Advisory - UMQ will lead a softwood lumber mission to Washington May 14 to May 16, 2017

MONTREAL, May 6, 2017 /CNW Telbec/ - The Union of Quebec Municipalities (UMQ) will go to Washington, DC from May 14 to May 16 to raise awareness among American legislators and forest industry partners about the importance of a softwood lumber trade accord to both Canada and the US.

The mission's main activities will include meetings with senior executives of the U.S. Lumber Coalition and the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). Members of the delegation will also meet with representatives and senators of the US Congress.

Mayor Alexandre Cusson of Drummondville, as UMQ first vice-president, will officially head the mission. Among other Quebec municipal officeholders taking part are several members of the UMQ forest committee, including Mayor Déborah Bélanger (Rivière-Rouge), Mayor Gilles Potvin (Saint-Félicien), Mayor Jean-Maurice Matte (Senneterre), and Mayor Pierre Corbeil (Val d'Or).

Also joining the delegation will be John Parisella, former Quebec Delegate General in New York.

The Quebec mayors will report on the mission and its outcome at a news briefing on May 16 in Washington. Details will be provided in due course. In the meantime, requests for interviews may be forwarded to UMQ Communications and Media Relations Advisor Patrick Lemieux at 438-827-4560 or [email protected].

The voice of local government
Since its founding in 1919, the UMQ has represented municipalities of every size in every region of Quebec. The UMQ mission is to provide provincial leadership for effective, autonomous local governments and uphold the fundamental role of those elected to municipal office. UMQ members represent over 80% of the population and land area of Quebec and are grouped into affinity caucuses comprising local municipalities, central municipalities, regional cities, major cities, and municipalities in the Montreal metropolis.

SOURCE Union des municipalités du Québec