Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
Thank you to all our witnesses for appearing today.
Ms. Sullivan, I have a feeling that with your comments about the power imbalance and the grocery code of conduct you might be a valuable witness for us in our next study as we examine the high price of food and the power that exists in the grocery retail market.
On your comments about labour, it truly is a strange time in our country right now, having come through a brutal two and half years that have really upended everything. We now have a country where there's a record amount of food bank use among Canadian families. We know that inflation is hitting many Canadian families hard. At the same time, that is juxtaposed with so many “help wanted” signs. It's quite a conundrum that we find ourselves in.
You mentioned that your industry is 20% short. I know that in my riding of Cowichan—Malahat—Langford, it seems that they are in desperate need of labour everywhere, whether they're a restaurant or a small manufacturer. It is truly everywhere. That is the strange time we find ourselves in. I don't remember a time in recent memory where there have been so many jobs available but so many people struggling.
I'm just wondering. You talked about developing an industry-led workforce strategic plan. I know that in many of your members' businesses and manufacturing places you do have unionized workers. The UFCW, of course, is the big one in Canada. I think that for the labour unions—particularly the UFCW—it's in their interest to grow their membership.
I'm just wondering what conversations with them have been like. Have they been able to offer any innovative ideas, some assistance from their expertise or anything about trying to get more homegrown talent interested in what opportunities exist?