Government Operations Committee on Oct. 20th, 2016

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

Okay.

[Bernice Perkins]

We have a few who are out of the urban setting, but most of them are in the city.

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

So you are not familiar with any remote area's concerns about not having a bank or access to services that the government provides? We are looking at how to leverage the assets of Canada Post. It has an excellent distribution network. It is the only corporation that does the last mile. When the asphalt ends, they are the only ones that do it.

I'm wondering whether there are any ideas you might have to give Canada Post a little direction that is not just cut, cut, but a mindset of how to grow businesses.

Do you have any ideas?

[Brenda Marshall-Colenutt]

That's something we can take to our members, get more on, and then submit it to the committee.

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

Mr. Watson, I'd love to have your ideas because you have been a very successful businessman, and you have been monitoring the costs and ensuring that you are competitive.

Do you have any ideas?

[Harry Watson]

I've always been an independent. We work hard doing what we do. We're a non-union company. I think Canada Post has a very strong union.

Maybe if you became a non-union company, you might have a lot better chance.

[Voices]

Oh, oh!

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

No, excuse me. We are here to hear ideas.

Thank you for your ideas, because there is nothing that we don't take in. We have to absorb it and look at it.

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

Okay.

Do you have any ideas, Mr. Gulka-Tiechko or Ms. Sanson?

[Myron Gulka-Tiechko]

Today we're not creative.

[Voices]

Oh, oh!

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

Not a problem.

Thank you.

[The Chair, Conservative, Tom Lukiwski]

We'll go to our final two interventions. They will be five minutes each.

Mr. Clarke is next. If you're not fluently bilingual, you may want to put on your translation devices.

Mr. Clarke, you have the floor for five minutes.

[Alupa Clarke, Conservative, Beauport—Limoilou, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Hello everyone. I'm very pleased to be in Moose Jaw. It's a very beautiful city in the Prairies and it has lovely architecture.

My first question is for the Moose Jaw municipal representatives and is very simple.

[The Chair, Conservative, Tom Lukiwski]

I don't believe we're getting translation.

[A voice]

No, we're not.

[The Chair, Conservative, Tom Lukiwski]

Mr. Clarke, perhaps you would start once again. We'll give you your time back.

[Alupa Clarke, Conservative, Beauport—Limoilou, QC]

Okay.

What I said was important because I mentioned that Moose Jaw is a fantastic city and that its architecture is lovely.

[A voice]

[Inaudible—Editor]

[Alupa Clarke, Conservative, Beauport—Limoilou, QC]

I can speak in English, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Conservative, Tom Lukiwski]

Yes, Mr. Clarke, perhaps you wouldn't mind asking your questions en anglais while we try to straighten this out.

[Alupa Clarke, Conservative, Beauport—Limoilou, QC]

Okay. Normally I speak in French for the sake of the country, but I'll speak in English.

Moose Jaw is a gorgeous city, so my first question goes to the municipality. It's a straightforward question. Is Canada Post a national symbol of federal unity for you and the people living here?

[Myron Gulka-Tiechko]

I think it's always been assumed to be one of the things that jells and holds the country together, so I would agree with that comment.

[Alupa Clarke, Conservative, Beauport—Limoilou, QC]

Madam Marshall-Colenutt and Madam Perkins, for the aboriginal people of this region, is Canada Post a service or do you find it to be a national symbol?

[Bernice Perkins]

Personally, I find it a service.