Thank you very much.
My name is Vincent Lambert. I have been employed at Canada Post since 2004. I am here on my own behalf and because I have had the opportunity to have a lot of information about the vision of the Union of Postal Workers, CUPW, when it comes to the future of the company I work for. I have also had the opportunity to meet the public and talk with people, as well as with elected representatives, about our vision of the future of the postal service.
You have certainly had an opportunity to read Delivering Community Power or have it explained to you. One of the points that often comes up and that perhaps affects me a little more is greenhouse gas reductions. We may wonder how the environment can concern Canada Post. However, I think that all corporations, as good citizens, have a role to play when it comes to the environment.
The decisions must also include the impact we have on our environment. As a Crown corporation, Canada Post can play a leadership role in this area. We should set an example and be in the lead when it comes to our environmental practices. We have to implement changes as quickly as possible.
There are actions and decisions that can be considered with the goal of reducing Canada Post's impact on the environment, and perhaps on Canadian society.
First, electrical outlets can be installed wherever there are post offices. You have heard about this: one of the barriers to buying an electric vehicle is often the shortage of charging stations. There are not a lot of outlets. In some places, there are none. That is a barrier. The network of Canada Post points of service can give all communities the opportunity to have access to a charging station.
There is also the issue of door-to-door delivery. We must not forget that this has an effect on reducing greenhouse gases. Imagine 1,000 people driving to get their mail. We have heard a lot about how community mailboxes offer a good opportunity for walking. We know, however, that most people are going to get there by car, even if it is 30 seconds or two or three minutes away. They are going to leave their car running for 15 or 20 or 30 seconds. That means more greenhouse gases being produced. With door-to-door delivery, one letter carrier will travel to those places to deliver the mail.
Having services nearby reduces the need to travel in order to carry out transactions. People have talked about postal banking, and there are various government services we might also mention. There are several things. It might be passports or whatever kind of document or form. Job offers can also be put up in post offices. It becomes a gathering place for people outside urban centres. For remote regions, this may be somewhat more vital, whereas there are numerous services in cities.
I can give myself as an example. On weekends, and even during the week, my car sits in the street because I do not need it. Everything is at hand and easily reached. If you go a little farther out and drive 15 or 20 minutes outside the Quebec City region, you no longer have access to those services. You always have to go somewhere else. Obviously, people do that by car, and once again, greenhouse gases are produced.
All services are accessible on line. However, not everyone is necessarily comfortable applying for a passport on line, or making any other kind of application. It might be a pension or old age security application, for example. Those services are accessible on line, but people often need someone to help them and make sure the form is filled out properly. This is another place where the post office can serve as a gathering place.
Much has been said about postal banking. This could be a place for funding renewable energy projects. Canada has just ratified the Paris climate agreement. We have therefore made a commitment to reducing our greenhouse gas emissions. That affects the entire population. If a person wanted to do their part and install solar panels, the postal bank could help finance the installation of solar panels and enable the person to do their part to reduce our greenhouse gases and our footprint on the planet.
I would have liked to take a complete look at Delivering Community Power, but you have already heard about it. That was what affected me most.
Thank you.