Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.
I will begin by combining both groups, namely the Canadian Construction Association and the Canadian Federation of Independent Business. Please let me know whether I am heading in the right direction. Thirty-one per cent — which is almost 33 per cent — of the members of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business in Quebec are companies which operate in seasonal sectors, not only in Montreal, but also in outlying areas. This would include the restaurant and hotel sectors, and even agriculture and construction.
I am convinced that you each face challenges as far as retaining workers is concerned in these various sectors. Because of the specific type of work involved, seasonal cycles are bad for business. You cannot harvest potatoes or broccoli, or work in some areas of construction, 12 months a year. It's possible in some sectors, but not in others.
Is it difficult, for either one of your organizations, to retain workers for the next season? In some sectors, the timelines may seem short, but if there is no work ten months out of 12, it's vastly different. Generally speaking, how do your members deal with the problems associated with seasonal work?