That's exactly what I expected as an answer. It leads me to my next question concerning small grocers.
Mr. Bouchard or Mr. Scott, I think it'll be a combined answer, if you don't mind.
Small grocers are forced to negotiate on their own and basically have no clout. If you have your one store, you're on your own. There are small specialty stores in large urban centres, and it's very important to have those stores, because they cover a certain niche.
I'm in northern Ontario. I have small communities that are served by one store. There is one store, and the community is isolated, but it's not far to go to one of the majors. The cost of the interchange fee or that transaction in the smaller stores is passed on directly to the consumer, or it's more than likely absorbed by the store, because they can't afford to add any more to the cost. The cost is already up there. The larger stores can pass it on because they have a little bit more play, and they can play better with the suppliers as well.
Here's the scenario I'm thinking about. We have small communities that have the one store, which is struggling to be there in the first place. We're talking about service to small communities. We're talking about jobs, about where people work. It's a major employer in a small community.
Realistically, what are the chances of those stores getting wiped out or having to close down because they can't afford to stay open? They have that extra cost that makes them just a little more expensive, causing people to leave the community, go elsewhere, drive for an hour, and maybe save a few dollars on their groceries. More and more, this really leaves the community at a disadvantage. It causes more and more of a drain on the population because the services aren't there.
I'm pushing and pulling and maybe digging a little deeper than the purview of this committee, but I really am concerned about the survival of small communities that really centre around a grocery store or a central store that supplies them with goods.
If I can have your comments on this, I'd appreciate them.