Government Operations committee  A true Canadian deals with what's given to him or her. That's part of our issue. If there's a possibility on the business side to have expanded, quicker service... We're dealing with everybody today—Internet, Netflix, and all the other things. It aligns with Canada Post. If a service were offered, people would probably buy it.

Government Operations committee  I think some would. As Mr. Neegan said, if there's a demand for next-day service, as in telecommunications, people will buy that service as long as it has a positive effect on their business. If they're selling something or getting a product to market...you have to realize that in these small communities we're used to waiting three to five days to get something—

Government Operations committee  Absolutely.

Government Operations committee  You're putting me on the spot. I know they're into giftware and stuff today, but I don't think that's a real pusher for Canada Post. I think it's more of a convenience for people to go in and buy coins and giftware and stuff.... Honestly, I'm at a loss for words on what they could do.

Government Operations committee  Personally, I don't get door-to-door delivery in Keewatin, and I'm fine going to the post office where there are the locked boxes. I know that the people who get door-to-door delivery love it. It's less headache for them than going downtown to pick up their stuff. It's not that the communities are that big—there are 15,000 people—but it's a service that has come to be expected, so when some of your questions came out, the locals didn't even think they were ever going to lose their door-to-door mail.

Government Operations committee  I'll comment on the whole northwest of White River, Hornepayne, Geraldton, Manitouwadge. I've been to all the places throughout northwestern Ontario, and our feeling is that we don't want to lose it. If there are things that need to be done—revenue generation or expense-cutting—I think this type of process is awesome.

Government Operations committee  On being invited here, I quickly polled a lot of our businesses in Kenora. I didn't get a lot of response, except that they don't want to see any changes.

Government Operations committee  That was it. The hot topic, the billing from the different companies and corporations, was in the media. The companies and corporations said they were not going to stop charging us, so we'd better find a way of paying them. Fortunately or unfortunately, we have to deal with that.

Government Operations committee  There was talk of it. There was nothing cast in stone.

Government Operations committee  Absolutely. They were warned individually through the company that I work for.

Government Operations committee  It's NOACC, the northern Ontario chamber of commerce.

Government Operations committee  I think it mirrors that. I just want to answer the gentleman, Ramez, about social gatherings in the communities. In the remote north, I've lived in Big Trout Lake and throughout remote Ontario, working for my company, other than the chamber of commerce. It is a social place, the post office, because that's where everything comes in.

Government Operations committee  Yes. Our local media warned of a potential strike. In my community in Keewatin, I talked to the ladies in the small rural post office there. They were concerned that if there were bills or things that needed to get out, then we had to make alternate arrangements. Ontario Hydro is a good example.

Government Operations committee  The brief I handed in contains the answers that our business community in Kenora gave to the questions. As president of the chamber of commerce of Kenora, I also sit on NOACC, the northern Ontario chamber of commerce. We're very active in the whole northwest, not just in this region.