I was surprised too. It is quite common to average the last five years, but, yes, you are right to say this is an exceptional situation. It is different from all previous years in that respect. I would remind you that Canada Post has been profitable in virtually every year of its existence, except in recent years.
That definitely creates a strange impression, but it is interesting to include it in the average because it takes into account exceptional situations. They are not claiming that everything is fine, that there are no problems. I quite agree with the committee that it is important that Canada Post make changes to its structure and to the way it delivers its services. I find what Mr. Ricoul is proposing very interesting. The corporation must adapt in order to become a major player in the parcel sector.
Are we talking about community mailboxes? We have seen that it is difficult to implement that in the major cities.
In France, for example, there is space in the metro stations where people can go and pick up parcels. They get notifications on their phones. This is a very promising possibility that Canada Post could develop if it entered into agreements with metro representatives.
I mention metro stations because we are in Montreal, but this could be done in a host of other urban spaces that people frequently pass through. They would be able to pick up a parcel coming back from the office in the evening and take it home. The parcel would thus not be waiting on their doorstep.
In addition, people would no longer have to go to the post office during business hours to pick up their parcels, and so on. It is entirely possible to develop new options, but you have to be aware—and these are indeed figures that we must deal with—that there are more and more addresses but fewer and fewer letters. I think your task force stated that very clearly.
Now, what do we do? This is not a death sentence. This will not destroy Canada Post. In any case, as you can see, it is still profitable for the moment. The question is the form in which it is maintained and what purpose it serves.