Finance committee  Our costs are the same. Our costs are the same for utilities, believe it or not, because of things like that. We've had to be—

Finance committee  Regarding that specific question, I'm very impressed that you brought it up, and I will answer in the following manner. Although heat will make our lives difficult, it tremendously helps us dry our garments, and I'll tell you why. We're so efficient when it comes to things like this, and this is a great example.

Finance committee  Believe it or not, these changes were already part of our day-to-day existence. Where we've seen higher costs, obviously, is with materials such as hangers and the stuff that we wrap our garments with when they're picked up. When it comes to utilities, our biggest expense right now, for the facilities that have pickup and delivery services, is obviously gasoline.

Finance committee  That's correct.

Finance committee  That's a very good question, Mr. Baker. Believe or not, at the height of the pandemic, the fabricare industry was deemed an essential service, which was, for lack of a better word, almost like a kiss of death. We were allowed to stay open, but it was very difficult to receive many of those programs that were initially brought out.

Finance committee  That is correct, sir. We originally operated a traditional dry cleaning facility. Our main ingredient was perchloroethylene. A lot of people know it as “perc”. Approximately 15 years ago, my brother Petro, who is also my partner, and I decided to do something—

Finance committee  Thank you, Mr. Chair. We decided to take this initiative and introduce a whole new technology in Canada called wet cleaning. Believe it or not, everything that we produce in our facility is with soap and water. Obviously, there's a lot more involved in that. We do everything completely green.

Finance committee  Basically, what I can share with everyone here, to make everyone understand, is that a lot of times people—perhaps even some in this room—will clean their dress shirts at home, take them to a dry cleaner and say, “They've already been cleaned. I just want them ironed.” In our process, every single dress shirt is pressed damp.

Finance committee  Honourable Chair and respected members of the Standing Committee on Finance, good afternoon. My name is Konstadin Kantzavelos. I have been operating my business, TSC Wetclean, in the city of Mississauga since 1988. I am a proud member and president of the Canadian Fabricare Association, where I have sat on the board since 2013.