Absolutely. Thanks very much.
We're actually going through that today at one of our auto plants in Ingersoll, Ontario. The General Motors CAMI plant is shutting down. The last of the internal combustion engine vehicles that are being built are just coming off the assembly line. They will be shutting down the factory as they retool it, and once it reopens, hopefully by the end of this year, we'll have our first electric vehicles rolling off the assembly line.
How do you prepare the workers for that? There are going to be different skill sets they are going to need as they retool. As well, not all of the workforce is going to be needed. You're going to have to have a clear plan and be honest with the community and the workforce on who is needed. How do you ensure that the ones who are able to or want to retire have monies available to them, or that there's bridging if it needs to take place, as well as ensuring any new skills that will be needed? The collective agreement has to have that kind of language. It is a bipartite agreement that needs to take place.
It's not just those direct jobs. The parts plants are also being affected. You're not going to need all of the parts an internal combustion engine would need. Electric vehicles will need fewer internal parts. They're being affected as well. It's working with those community members, employers and workers as well. It's having that holistic view of how that change is happening.
These are ongoing discussions that take place. You don't do it at the eleventh hour. You build for it and you plan for it so that everyone knows what is coming down the pipeline, so to speak. It is either that blueprint or a road map. Everyone has a right to know how their livelihood is being affected, and then make those appropriate changes. If needed, have government involved with monies to ensure there is a fair and just transition that takes place and that those communities are looked after.