Human Resources committee  I would add that I agree that it's also about educating employers about the value that older workers bring. But you need to remember that employers themselves are getting older. This aging demographic isn't just on the worker's side but also on the employer's side. So I think it's naturally going to become a little bit more easier.

Human Resources committee  We do know that 65% of small-business owners want to exit their business in the next 10 years. So there is a succession issue here. That gives you a sense—

Human Resources committee  —of the aging demographics. We are not immune to it in the small business sector either. What I'm saying is anecdotal, but that you tend to want to hire people who reflect you. So if you are a little older, you may get the response, “Well, I'm willing to work another 10 years”.

Human Resources committee  It's difficult to say because every situation is going to be different, right? As Louis pointed out, many small business owners, for example, do train. It's just not specialized, professional training. It's on-the-job training. It's the type of thing that they are going to train for the positions they have.

Industry committee  It's hard to say. Again, it's early days to understand how that's going to ultimately impact the entire training process, but we do need more skills. We need to figure out how to get Canadians more skilled in different areas, so finding ways to make sure that the training is happening at the workplace itself, to us and I think to other organizations, is probably the most effective way of getting people trained into certain positions.

Industry committee  I would definitely agree. There are lots of tools out there for people to learn how to use the digital world. Groups such as us and I'm sure the chamber are doing our part to make sure that our business owners understand. I have to say that I'm not sure there's a role for the government in digital literacy beyond, I suppose, that of the provincial governments and the school systems.

Industry committee  My understanding is that it's up to $5,000. It's difficult to say. We believe it's important to have training at the workplace level or at the business level, so we like the concept of what they're trying to do with this particular program. We're still waiting for more details as well.

Industry committee  I would agree. I think digital technologies are more.... We focused on these because this is where we have the data and the information and, frankly, it's where it hits home mostly for smaller firms right now. We understand the huge advantages that can exist with digital technologies, especially, I think, for smaller firms.

Industry committee  It's all about priorities, isn't it? It's about what the priorities are at the municipal level and whether this is the priority, when you ask a small business owner what a municipality should be investing in. It's a great idea, but whether it's at the top of the list....

Industry committee  We would probably argue that they need more help in some of those other areas before this one.

Industry committee  We would be strongly opposed to any kind of additional tax being imposed on.... Even as an online merchant in Canada, you're subject to taxation laws in the place of supply, wherever you're located as a business, regardless of where your customers are. In the Canadian context, I think this is somewhat addressed.

Industry committee  That's right. But this way, at least you're only charging those people who choose to use maybe a premium credit card. That's where we would like to see it. Most of our members who would surcharge.... Frankly, as I said, we believe that the vast majority are not going to do it.

Industry committee  We haven't actually asked our members about that particular model. What we would always have to look at is what the cost of it would be to that community and where it was going to get the funds to create that kind of wireless system. This would be a big concern for us; municipalities tend to be some of the heavier taxers on our members as well.

Industry committee  Absolutely. As I said, I think that mobile technologies as well as digital technologies have been great for small businesses because they have given them an avenue to the world and to customers, putting them almost on par with larger competitors. On the Internet everyone is sort of equal in some respects.

Industry committee  I hate to tell you this, but it's already hitting the consumer. I mean, the merchant fees are being put into the price of the product. The way it is today, anybody who pays cash or uses Interac is subsidizing those who are paying by credit card, because the merchants have to incorporate their costs into the products.