I think that—
Evidence of meeting #39 for Government Operations and Estimates in the 42nd Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was services.
Evidence of meeting #39 for Government Operations and Estimates in the 42nd Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was services.
Conservative
President, Réseau communauté en santé Bathurst
Fine, thank you.
Yes, that could be a viable option, but I think that we really have to take the service and the employees into account. Canada Post has a certain responsibility to the community but also to its employees. As is often the case, the jobs might be less well paid than the ones at Canada Post. That concerns me somewhat.
Conservative
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Tom Lukiwski
We're out of time. Thank you.
Our final intervenor will be Mr. Whalen, for five minutes, please.
Liberal
Nick Whalen Liberal St. John's East, NL
Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
I thank all of you. I feel very comfortable here. There are a lot of seniors in the Chaleur region. Perhaps I am picking up on their wisdom.
Liberal
Nick Whalen Liberal St. John's East, NL
A lot of questions are being raised about the future of Canada Post, the solutions that might work, the appropriateness of subsidizing its services, and so on.
In your opinion and that of your members, should Canada Post be subsidized, and if so to what extent?
Are we talking about $500 million, or $1 billion?
Should we instead improve the services and offer them in a way that eliminates waste?
Director General , Association acadienne et francophone des aînées et aînés du Nouveau-Brunswick
It was clear from the exchanges we held with our members and with seniors that they hope that Canada Post will work on creating value added. I think I said that out already.
In all enterprises these days, this is more a way of doing business than a simple trendy expression. Businesses are trying to create value added with the services they already provide. This allows them to keep some of them, even if some changes prove necessary. As mentioned several times, Canada Post could offer other kinds of services, such as financial services, or could change its delivery service. It is a big challenge. Of course people never want to lose what they have or are used to having.
President, Réseau communauté en santé Bathurst
Thank you.
I am in favour of the value-added concept, but in this province, Service New Brunswick already offers a lot of services. From them we can obtain our hunting permits, driver's licences, and many other things.
Liberal
Nick Whalen Liberal St. John's East, NL
Are you suggesting that Canada Post and Service New Brunswick work together, or something along those lines?
President, Réseau communauté en santé Bathurst
It could be something like that. It would have to be profitable. Service New Brunswick has demonstrated that that service is very profitable and allows the province to save money.
Liberal
Nick Whalen Liberal St. John's East, NL
If all of those services were not offered by Canada Post but by Service New Brunswick, would that bother you? Does Canada Post have something special that means that it should be the institution to offer services?
Director General , Association acadienne et francophone des aînées et aînés du Nouveau-Brunswick
Sir, I would like to make a small correction.
Recently, the Province of New Brunswick declared that it was going to reduce the number of service centres—there are 20 or 25—to four large centres. Everyone is opting for technological solutions. This is not because people are all in favour of that.
Service New Brunswick is where people can purchase their driver's licences and licence plates. It offers all of the services, even marriage certificates, and other things as well. You can pay all of your taxes and income tax through Service New Brunswick. However, in 2017-2018, Service New Brunswick is going to emphasize computerized and technological solutions. That is a fact.
Director General , Association acadienne et francophone des aînées et aînés du Nouveau-Brunswick
I simply wanted to specify that.
President, Réseau communauté en santé Bathurst
I would like to add that not everyone has access to technology.
Director General , Association acadienne et francophone des aînées et aînés du Nouveau-Brunswick
That is true.
President, Réseau communauté en santé Bathurst
It is a mistake to believe that everyone in the community has access to technology. A lot of seniors do not, and a lot of people who live under the poverty line do not have access to it either.
Liberal
Nick Whalen Liberal St. John's East, NL
Yes, I understand what you are saying. That is what everyone says, throughout the country.
Director General , Association acadienne et francophone des aînées et aînés du Nouveau-Brunswick
Yes, there always seem to be cuts down the road.
Liberal
Nick Whalen Liberal St. John's East, NL
I apologize, but I only have one minute to ask a question.
Will seniors use the postal banks? Would you go from a private bank to postal banking services if they existed?
President, Réseau communauté en santé Bathurst
It would depend on the services, their cost and a lot of things. Currently, we hear about the Tangerine bank on television.
It would depend on what Canada Post were offering. If Canada Post wants to attract people and if they want them to use the new services, as Mr. Bélanger said, the rates would have to be competitive and perhaps even better than others.
