Absolutely.
Evidence of meeting #49 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 community.
Evidence of meeting #49 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 community.
3:05 p.m.
Development Corporation, Brokenhead Ojibway Nation
I see that more as the next step above me to have those conversations with Canada Post.
Once we get Olive into the grocery store, I think we're in a better position to have those discussions because then it will become a reality versus the last two months talking about making this move. I would hope that Canada Post would realize that this is an awesome location, versus just having access to mailboxes.
3:05 p.m.
Liberal
Yasmin Ratansi Liberal Don Valley East, ON
We were having confusion about whether it was a franchised store, but it isn't. It's moving from one band building to another band building. All you need to negotiate with Canada Post is that you're going to set up the Canada Post area in a correct way and that you would like to increase the hours.
You were talking about banking. We also understand that there are issues with broadband. Most people in remote areas seem to do banking on their phones. With Internet access, do you think...?
3:05 p.m.
Development Corporation, Brokenhead Ojibway Nation
Up until very recently, Brokenhead owned BON Communications, where they were responsible for the Internet service in the community. We've recently sold that business to a local Internet provider and high-speed, fibre-optic Internet is being installed in the community starting next spring.
3:05 p.m.
Liberal
Yasmin Ratansi Liberal Don Valley East, ON
Then your businesses would benefit if a postal bank were here, which provided at least the basic services.
3:05 p.m.
Conservative
3:05 p.m.
Liberal
Brenda Shanahan Liberal Châteauguay—Lacolle, QC
Thank you very much. This is really such an interesting discussion. I feel like this is the impetus for something really awesome that's going to be happening. I love hearing that optimism because that's exactly the kind of spirit that we're looking for in trying to help Canada Post.
What really shocks me is that Canada Post has not been more of a partner with the Brokenhead community here. When we first heard about the hours being from nine to noon, and in the shack and so on, I was thinking that maybe people were okay with that or whatever. Who am I to judge?
You've fleshed that out a bit; that it was full-time, but now it is limited to nine to noon, and it's not even accessible until after the mail is sorted. I was thinking, who would accept that? Nobody would accept that. That's worse than the status quo. That's going backwards.
On top of that, you are engaged in starting up businesses and you're bringing in fibre optic, which is awesome as well. I have communities in my riding that would love to have fibre optic and are struggling to get that, so you're really on the right track.
What kind of a partner are you looking for in Canada Post or do you need Canada Post at all? What would it mean to you if Canada Post were here as a full partner versus not here at all, or the essential service versus a business partner?
3:05 p.m.
Development Corporation, Brokenhead Ojibway Nation
I'm going to let Jackie speak a little bit because she has been with Brokenhead longer than I have, so I don't want to speak out of turn. I don't know if there have been any discussions about the hours or if they were just imposed and we accepted.
3:05 p.m.
Director of Operations, Brokenhead Ojibway Nation
They were imposed and we accepted.
3:05 p.m.
Liberal
3:05 p.m.
Liberal
Brenda Shanahan Liberal Châteauguay—Lacolle, QC
All right and the reaction of the community at that time...?
3:05 p.m.
Director of Operations, Brokenhead Ojibway Nation
The reaction of the community was that they couldn't retrieve their mail and they couldn't do their postal services when they needed to. That was the reaction and they were quite upset.
To move it to a more central location, like the BON grocery store, would make it a lot easier for the people of Brokenhead Ojibway Nation and the people in the surrounding community to access their mail.
3:05 p.m.
Liberal
Brenda Shanahan Liberal Châteauguay—Lacolle, QC
Excellent.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but this is what we're hearing from other communities. Is online shopping and parcel post something that's growing in your community?
3:05 p.m.
Liberal
Brenda Shanahan Liberal Châteauguay—Lacolle, QC
Even with full-time access to boxes, not all parcels fit into the postal boxes, so there is still going to be a limit as to when people can pick up their parcels.
3:05 p.m.
Director of Operations, Brokenhead Ojibway Nation
Yes, and that would definitely be an issue if they can't access their parcels, as it is now.
3:05 p.m.
Liberal
Brenda Shanahan Liberal Châteauguay—Lacolle, QC
I hear you.
We've also heard very compelling testimony. It's one thing to have poor retail delivery to individuals needing their parcels. It's another thing when you're trying to develop businesses and need to get that MoneyGram or get a parcel delivered and get that specialized service, otherwise the business cannot grow.
I'd like to hear from the panel as well. What would that mean to the growth of this community, if you don't have more access to services?
3:05 p.m.
Director of Operations, Brokenhead Ojibway Nation
Is the question what it would mean if we didn't have the access—?
3:10 p.m.
Liberal
Brenda Shanahan Liberal Châteauguay—Lacolle, QC
—if you didn't have it, if it just stayed as 9:00 to 12:00. Olive is there—and I love the way everyone is on a first-name basis—from 9:00 to 12:00; she closes up her counter; people can still go and open up their boxes, which is great, but if somebody comes in who has a rush order.... We heard from a company this morning that makes mukluks; they're doing $15 million in mukluks. There is potential; there is demand. I'm sure you have a lot of young people; you have a lot of great ideas. If somebody comes in and needs to get something done, but Olive has gone home for the day....
3:10 p.m.
Director of Operations, Brokenhead Ojibway Nation
I would suggest that Canada Post work with us and try it out here in Brokenhead. If it works, it works. If it doesn't, it doesn't, and we will come back to the table and talk about it.
