Government Operations Committee on April 15th, 2024

[Dwayne Jones]

It would be interesting to see the approach taken if we weren't running two parallels on trying to set up a system to deliver without that post office in the community. I would like to see the level of approach that the corporation would take if it was 100% wanting to see that post office remain in the community.

I'm sorry, but the amount of effort that's put behind the steps that are taken is a clear indicator at the beginning stage on where you want to go with that community. If it's maintaining a level, start to reach out, and look at all avenues that are available to the community.

We've seen it in—

[Taylor Bachrach, NDP, Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC]

I'm sorry. I was going to try to fit in one more question, but I hear the chair cutting me off. I was getting overambitious there.

Thank you very much for your answers.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

Thanks for cutting him off for me, Mr. Bachrach.

We'll go to our final round with Mrs. Kusie, for five minutes, please.

[Stephanie Kusie, Conservative, Calgary Midnapore, AB]

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair, and thank you to our witnesses for being here today.

I want to go back to the employment data that's being collected by Canada Post, because I believe it has a significant impact on your compensation.

In 2021, Canada Post changed how it reported employment figures by including full-time, part-time, temporary, casual and term employees, rather than just full-time and part-time employees.

Do you feel this diminishes the accuracy of the data?

[Dwayne Jones]

Is the question directed to me?

[Stephanie Kusie, Conservative, Calgary Midnapore, AB]

Yes, it's to either of you, as leaders in the postal community.

[Dwayne Jones]

Currently, in our collective agreement, there is what's been referred to as a two-tiered wage system. Our collective agreement is on the website, so it's public. From what we've experienced, any time you start somebody out at a reduced amount, when it's literally.... I won't say “pennies”, but when it's just above minimum wage, it's very hard to attract and maintain a viable workforce.

That's something that I think needs to be looked at because, as we've seen in remote areas.... For example, even up north, in Iqaluit, Nunavut, there's a situation where we've had to look at the idea of a starting salary and a living wage.

[Jan Simpson]

Also, for CUPW members, and as Dwayne said, we have temporary workers with a two-tiered wage, which was implemented by the Harper government. We've seen many young workers left behind because they're not guaranteed hours.

We need to negotiate through this so everybody gets a living wage. We all know the economy has fallen behind. We've all fallen behind. A lot of temporary workers leave because they don't get enough hours to support themselves or their families. There's a high turnover in temporary workers. That's a problem we face, as Dwayne said. The lower starting wage and the insecure number of hours required of these workers mean they don't have the proper benefits and pension they deserve. They're doing the exact same work side by side with a co-worker who's a full-time or part-time employee.

[Stephanie Kusie, Conservative, Calgary Midnapore, AB]

Thank you for that.

I think speaking truth to power is something that we focus on here in this committee.

Compensation costs for executives have increased from $10 million in 2015 to $15 million in 2022. Are you aware of whether this is because the salaries and bonuses of executives have increased, or has the number of executive positions increased?

[Jan Simpson]

I can speak for my members. They have not received that kind of increase. We're in negotiations right now.

Canada Post has their compensation models for the executives. We all know they all received bonuses throughout the pandemic. I would ask you to speak to Canada Post about their compensation plan for upper management.

However, for postal workers, we know many are falling behind with the lower starting wages that were implemented in previous years and continue to be implemented. We need to get rid of the two-tiered wage system and the number of hours required for a worker to become a full-time worker and receive the proper benefits they deserve, the same as their co-workers.

Many of the workers who are left behind are young workers, racialized workers, women and indigenous workers, as well—those who are part of equity-seeking groups.

[Stephanie Kusie, Conservative, Calgary Midnapore, AB]

I think this is to my point exactly. It would be frustrating, I believe, in your positions, to see executive compensation and a $5-million increase over seven years when you're talking about new workers being given a wage barely above minimum.

Do you think executives are increasing their own compensation, rather than focusing on the compensation of employees and the success of the company at large? Do you think that, when they are receiving these additional funds—$5 million—they are also giving consideration to the team of workers who serve Canadians across the country?

[Jan Simpson]

Like I said, we're in bargaining right now, and we hope the government allows us to bargain a good, fair collective agreement, where people have a living wage and are able to have a defined benefit pension plan. We know members of Parliament all receive a good pension plan after being here for a short period of time. For postal workers, many have made it their career and they deserve to retire in dignity. All Canadians deserve a living wage and all Canadians deserve to retire in dignity, as well.

In this round of bargaining, we're bargaining for the public post office and our work, so hopefully wages will be brought up to a proper wage and everybody can live with dignity.

[Stephanie Kusie, Conservative, Calgary Midnapore, AB]

That's my time, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, all.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

Thanks very much.

Mr. Kusmierczyk.

[Irek Kusmierczyk, Liberal, Windsor—Tecumseh, ON]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

We're talking about supporting rural communities.

Today, Canadians from coast to coast to coast will be receiving the Canada carbon rebate. Some of that will be delivered directly into bank accounts and some of that, of course, our postal workers—

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

Is this relevant to the topic?

[Irek Kusmierczyk, Liberal, Windsor—Tecumseh, ON]

Thank you.

Of course, we know that our carriers will be delivering some of those cheques to Canadians. Families in Ontario will be receiving the first of quarterly payments that will add up to about $1,120. In Alberta, a family of four will receive $1,800 in quarterly payments.

It's unfortunate, because right now the Conservatives in committee are holding up the rural top-up, which would put hundreds more dollars in the pockets of rural families across this country.

Three out of the four parties around this table believe in climate change. I certainly know the members of CUPW believe in climate change, because they are at the front line of the battle against it. They see it on a day-to-day basis. Last year, in 2023, 17 million hectares of forest was burned in Canada, and we felt, saw and tasted the smoke, even in communities—

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

I have a point of order, Mr. Chair.

[Irek Kusmierczyk, Liberal, Windsor—Tecumseh, ON]

—like mine in Windsor.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

I'm sorry, Mr. Kusmierczyk. I'll stop the clock. There's a point of order.

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

I wanted to make sure that Mr. Kusmierczyk came to the right room today. It seems like he thinks we're a different committee, so I want to clarify we're the government operations committee in room 025—

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

Thanks, Mr. Genuis.

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

—in West Block. I hope that's helpful to the committee.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

Please go ahead, Mr. Kusmierczyk.

[Irek Kusmierczyk, Liberal, Windsor—Tecumseh, ON]

I know that climate change, and especially the forest fires and thick smoke we saw blanketing our communities, including my community in Windsor, has an impact on letter carriers across the country.

There were 150 mail delivery interruptions over a six-month period last year due to wildfires, floods and climate change. From your vantage point, what are the impacts of severe weather events on services to rural and remote communities, and on our letter carriers?