This is the very issue I'm talking about. This is what is shown in the research conducted by the MDEIE, which is especially interested in Quebec. However, the situation is probably the same in all Canadian provinces. Research shows that there will be a shortage of successors. Even though companies will be available, there will be nobody to take them over. The only alternative—the European Commission is working on this—will be to have employees take over their own companies. However, this process requires a lot of guidance and preparation.
Right now, and for another two or three years, there is no problem, since there are enough successors. However, as we approach the peak of the curve...
You can already see this in some regions. I am involved in local development centres in Quebec. I was vice-president of the Quebec City LDC for a very long time. For example, over 50% of cases at the LDC of the regional county municipality of L'Islet are company takeovers. For the time being, there is no problem. However, panic is starting to set in because, in three or four years, there will be no one left aside from the workers.
We must implement an international mechanism, which will keep the economic costs of closures from skyrocketing. Basically, what the estimates are saying is that, if you are not careful, you will end up with a problem.