I call the meeting to order.
Ladies and gentlemen and colleagues, I think we'll get going, even though it is a few minutes before 10. I'd like to get a bit of an early start if we can.
Welcome, everyone, to the 36th meeting of the Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates.
To our panellists, I'm sure you're all aware, gentlemen, that the minister responsible for Canada Post, the Honourable Judy Foote, has entered into a fairly extensive consultation process trying to examine the future of Canada Post. Phase one of that consultation process was to establish a task force whose mandate was to examine the financial viability and sustainability of Canada Post. They have completed their work and tabled their report. We've had a chance to examine that report and talk to the task force members.
The second phase, of course, is to go across Canada to communities both large and small, urban and rural, remote and first nations communities, to talk to individuals, organizations, and municipalities to get their views. They want to know what people believe the future of Canada Post should be and what it will hold, and offer suggestions to this committee as to how Canada Post perhaps can operate in the future to ensure its sustainability.
That's why you're all here today.
As I've explained, I'll be asking all panellists to give a brief five-minute opening statement that will be followed by questions and answers by our committee members.
To my colleagues on the committee, as a bit of an explanation, we have two representatives from the Canadian Union of Postal Workers, who will be making opening statements. That's a bit unusual, but the reason is that Mr. Keefe was originally scheduled to be at our 9 a.m. session. Unfortunately, the two other panellists had to cancel at the last minute, so I thought in the essence of fairness it would only be fair to have Mr. Keefe be allowed to give his opening statement as he would have had the other panellists shown up at 9 a.m.
We will start now, if I may, with Mr. Cavanagh, for five minutes or less.
Please, sir, the floor is yours.