We talked mainly about door-to-door delivery, but we also have concerns about the price of stamps, even though we do agree that Canada Post must be self-sustaining.
I would like to say something about door-to-door delivery. There is a big unknown here that Mr. Chopra did not talk about and that is the postal transformation. In fact, Canada Post started making changes in 2007. The postal transformation mainly affected delivery. A model was developed that used motorized letter carriers and sequential sorting, with mail going directly to the letter carrier's bag. This model is not used everywhere; it is to continue until 2017. The implementation of this new delivery model alone, the multi-service letter carrier, will save Canada Post $270 million in 2017. That is an important element. Now, Canada Post is changing its position again, putting aside this new model and putting an end to door-to-door delivery.
What we think of that is very simple. A business like Canada Post has two major advantages: its network and its brand. It wants to eliminate one of its advantages, which is contact with its customers.
Another important aspect of the plan is the elimination of public post offices, which will be turned over to the private sector. Canada Post had already tried this in 1980, but the initiative was blocked because it realized that it would lose direct contact with its customers.
Once you crack open the door, it can be pushed wide open and everything goes. In Canada, there are some vultures, or major corporations such as TransForce, UPS or FedEx that are just waiting for the right moment to take over the market. That is what is happening in Great Britain with privatization and the arrival of TNT, which also offers door-to-door delivery.
We are not fearmongering. We see that Canada Post is going in the wrong direction. Instead, it should be expanding services.