Government Operations Committee on Oct. 20th, 2016

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

Thank you.

Mr. McEachern, do you know what the unemployment rate is in the city of Regina? I didn't find it here, so I couldn't—

[Sean McEachern]

I don't know offhand.

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

Okay. Fair enough.

Ms. Sterling, you were talking about Saskatchewan Transportation Company that used to deliver parcels, and you mentioned that it had financial difficulties. Canada Post, you're aware, has the concept of last-mile delivery. They deliver where the road ends. Would you like to see Canada Post as a business, a service, or a combination of both?

[Carmen Sterling]

I'm thinking a combination of both, based on the needs of our members. It probably would be difficult for a business to consider some of the services they would be providing in some of our rural and remote areas as viable, and there might be challenges there, whereas in the urban settings.... I'm actually from the arm of Weyburn that surrounds the city of Weyburn, and Mayor Button referenced that one of the postal outlets is in the Pharmasave. Some of our ratepayers are very appreciative of that, because there are times when they need to access service and they can't get to the post office during its regular postal hours.

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

We've been listening to everyone around the country, and this is one of our last few stops. Were you aware that the Canada Post created a competition in the franchise stores by having a corporate store and a franchise store? They do not charge franchise fees, so Canada Post does not get any money from the franchisee.

If Canada Post, as the last bastion of service provider, is there, and it does keep the hours that your businesses want, would that be an alternative service? We have heard that the franchise's main job, really, is to stock the shelves. Seniors tell us that. What would you like to see from an enhanced or a reinvented Canada Post for your citizens?

[Carmen Sterling]

I'm not sure that it needs to be reinvented in rural areas. A commitment to the service that our members or our ratepayers expect is certain what we're looking at, but I find it difficult to specifically say, on behalf of our members, what business model we think would work.

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

We would like to get some input from you. You can send the input back to us.

I just want some clarification. England has an excellent banking system, yet they have allowed postal banking. Postal banking is not something simple. We are looking at, and we will be listening to, how it helps its memberships in the remote area, but broadband is a question.

My last question is to Mr. Lafleur.

Would you like to see labour on the board of directors of Canada Post?

[Donald Lafleur]

Yes, we're always in favour of being part of the discussion.

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

Fair enough. Thanks.

[The Chair, Conservative, Tom Lukiwski]

Thank you very much.

We'll go now to our final two interventions, which will be five minutes for questions and answers.

We'll start with Monsieur Clarke.

You have five minutes.

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

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

My first question is for all three groups here.

According to your members, is Canada Post a national symbol of federal unity?

[Debra Button]

According to our members, is it a symbol? I'm going to say no.

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

Okay.

[Debra Button]

Is it a symbol of national unity? No.

[Carmen Sterling]

I would agree. I don't think our members would see it as such.

[Donald Lafleur]

You want to know whether it's a symbol of national unity?

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

Yes.

[Donald Lafleur]

I'm not sure it's seen as a national symbol or a symbol of national unity.

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

Thank you.

Ms. Button, you mentioned that your members more or less agreed on Canada Post's five-point action plan. You specified, however, that the quality of service should remain very high.

Can you please elaborate on what high-quality service means to your and your members?

[Debra Button]

I'll direct that to Sean.

[Sean McEachern]

In the context of our position today, it is that our members, the local governments, the residents, and the businesses continue to have access to a mail service that provides them the opportunity to deliver packages, letters, whatever it is, at an affordable cost across the country and around the world.

It's also access within key service centres within the province that are within close proximity to the home residence, and that it doesn't put a burden on them in terms of being able to access those types of services that are provided by the Government of Canada through Canada Post.

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

Thank you.

Mr. Lafleur, you're part of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers, right?

[Donald Lafleur]

I'm still a member. However, since I was elected to the Canadian Labour Congress, I left my position.

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

During the recent consultations, the committee met with a number of Canadian Union of Postal Workers members who seemed to question the budget and deficit forecasts of $750 million by 2026.

Do you also question these forecasts, which were supported by the task force?

[Donald Lafleur]

Do these forecasts come from the Conference Board of Canada?