Government Operations Committee on Oct. 4th, 2016

[Lowell Cormier]

I certainly didn't go to canvass there, because there wouldn't be very many people there.

[Yasmin Ratansi, Liberal, Don Valley East, ON]

Okay.

[Lowell Cormier]

Where I'm living downtown in Waterford, the post office wouldn't be considered a hub for social engagement, but I would dare say that in certain rural communities, it certainly is. In Gabarus or New Victoria or a small rural setting, I think people do gather at post offices. That's just an opinion.

[Yasmin Ratansi, Liberal, Don Valley East, ON]

Okay.

[Cecil Clarke]

They do. In the communities of Donkin, Port Morien, or Gabarus—I've been in them—you stop in the post office to say hello because then the community will know that you're there when you're campaigning. People do use that as their hub. In fact, at a veteran's door, he goes, “Okay, I'm talking you up down at the post office.” Everyone's coming and going. That's where the focal point is. That's where everyone's mailboxes are in those communities.

[Yasmin Ratansi, Liberal, Don Valley East, ON]

You talked about the rural moratorium stay in place and you talked about unemployment. Do you know how many postal workers there are within your municipalities? Do you have any idea?

[Lowell Cormier]

I wouldn't have that—

[Yasmin Ratansi, Liberal, Don Valley East, ON]

Okay. That's not a problem. The reason I ask is they're well-paid jobs. Somebody suggested that to be competitive with the world, you could pay a rupee, probably, to the postal worker, but this is Canada and the cost of living is totally different, so it would be rather like comparing apples to bananas, and it would create a real mess.

I guess for you the rural moratorium is an important aspect, because the jobs stay. They are not sent off to Shoppers Drug Mart or whatever.

[Cecil Clarke]

Well, when I look at the public service aspect, I get a lot of sensitive information that comes into my mailbox, and I know a lot of other people who are making transactions. The difference with contracting out to retail is it's not just about paying for a service. You're also paying for confidentiality. You're paying for legal preservation. I saw two voters' cards in two voters' envelopes with their PINs on them that were improperly placed on a mailbox in a seniors' apartment, and the first thing you want to do is return them to the post office, but it's actually breaking the law to even touch them.

These employees are also entrusted. It's a position of trust as well, because you're dealing with confidential material that should be protected and legally is protected, so when you want to talk about farming that out, are you getting people who understand the legal and fiduciary obligations that come with those roles, obligations that a public employee would be held to?

[Yasmin Ratansi, Liberal, Don Valley East, ON]

The last question I have has to do with when they instituted the CMBs in your municipalities. Did they consult you, number one? Number two—I think it was Mr. Ayoub's question—how much does it cost to clear the snow from around the CMBs? If there's a community mailbox, there must be snow gathering. It's your job to clear off the sidewalks, etc. Do you have any costs on that?

[Cecil Clarke]

The only clearing would be done in a public way. They wouldn't go into anything that would be off a public roadway or a public sidewalk.

[Yasmin Ratansi, Liberal, Don Valley East, ON]

Were you consulted when these boxes were put in?

[Cecil Clarke]

With the CMBs, the inconsistency is the aspect that the Union of Nova Scotia Municipalities has mentioned. In some cases they have been satisfied with the level of consultation and in other cases they haven't been. Oftentimes, when they haven't been, it's been reflective of all the problems of ice buildup and other congestion that is not conducive to a safe operating environment for postal delivery and gathering.

[Yasmin Ratansi, Liberal, Don Valley East, ON]

Thank you.

[The Chair, Conservative, Tom Lukiwski]

Gentlemen, thank you both for being here. I appreciate the time you've taken out of your day to be with us.

Should you have any additional information that you wish to present for the benefit of this committee, please send it directly to our clerk.

In closing, I would like to say that everyone around this table, from an elected officials standpoint, knows what you're going through in the middle of a campaign, so in a very non-partisan manner, we wish you both the best of luck.

[Lowell Cormier]

Thank you very much. Thanks for the opportunity.

[The Chair, Conservative, Tom Lukiwski]

You're welcome.

This meeting is adjourned.