That is an excellent question. It all depends on the people you speak to, the general population or our seniors. Canada Post has a list and says it is going to cut this and that and reduce costs and so on, and there are fewer nuances.
What additional elements could Canada Post add to its current range of services to generate income that would mean that it would no longer be necessary to cut basic services as much for persons of a certain age? That is a question we hear on a regular basis.
We would prefer that Canada Post add services that would benefit seniors and the population as a whole, instead of reducing current services. That is of course the choice of last resort. We are aware that there are economic factors, that technology may improve and that people will eventually get connected.
In New Brunswick, the Internet is available just about everywhere, but according to the most recent statistics, 50% of women and 40% of men of 65 or more in New Brunswick live under the poverty line, that is to say that they get by only on Old Age Security benefits and the Guaranteed Income Supplement. Poverty is thus a reality in New Brunswick.
Access to technology and the capacity to pay more for services are also issues for our seniors, because they don't necessarily have the income to do that. For instance, it may cost $25 to have a parcel delivered by Canada Post, depending on its weight and the distance involved, which is not always affordable for low-income persons, most of which are women in New Brunswick. We have to give them access to more services.