That is a good question. It will depend on how the pandemic plays out and how the lockdown is lifted. In the beginning, there was no question of choosing between the economy and health. We all agree on that.
In Quebec, we experienced an almost absolute lockdown. We saw that it had alleviated the situation, but that it was not a miracle solution. Over the next few months, there may be other cases. So we will certainly have to keep good health measures in place. We may even have to keep only the best measures. Masks may be a better solution than keeping two metres apart. If we continue to maintain the distancing measure, movie theatres and restaurants may reopen, but they will hardly be profitable.
We need to find the best way to achieve good health outcomes, while at the same time sending messages to affected areas so that they know what to expect. Now they are reopening, but they are doing it in total uncertainty. It will be very difficult. They must continue to have good financial conditions.
We should also remember that there was a labour shortage in Quebec and throughout North America. Certainly, people will lose their jobs, but we may have the opportunity to redirect them to other sectors or to other companies that are performing better in their sector. Some adaptation is certainly possible.
In Quebec, for example, many businesses were limiting expansion because they lacked labour. In many cases, they did not need a highly skilled workforce either. These businesses could perhaps take over the sectors that will reopen more gradually, more slowly and less completely.
We might be surprised too. For example, since the retail stores have reopened, there are a lot of people. Some things are going to change. I think telework is here to stay, but we might be surprised to see people starting to travel again sooner than we thought.