Maybe I can try to hone this down a little bit.
I've heard from several larger employers anecdotally, not just witnesses, who explained to me that the amount of money they're paying in terms of EI is substantial. Of course, they would like to see that reduced, but they're also concerned in a much more profound way about the number of people they would like to hire. There is a risk, obviously, that if you train someone they will move on after four years to another industry or get a better job somewhere else.
Have you given any thought to sharing that burden? In other words, if a company hires or takes on five or six apprentices, the amount of money they would have would be remitted for the time they were training those individuals. Clearly, one of the things that has been identified is a labour shortage, particularly a flexible labour shortage. I'm wondering if that's something you've been able to consider in your travels.
That's open to all of you.
Thank you, Chair.