Thank you, Minister. Thank you for being here today. I'm glad you're feeling better.
Late last year, the government—the Privy Council Office—conducted polling regarding Canada Post that raised the possibility of restructuring and of cuts to services and jobs. The poll asked about closing rural post offices, moving remaining door-to-door home deliveries to community mailboxes, reducing the frequency of mail delivery and using more automation to replace Canada Post workers.
News of this polling, as you can imagine, Minister, was understandably concerning for postal workers and for Canadians who rely on Canada Post. The poll was conducted prior to the release of your mandate letter, which asked you to “ensure that Canada Post provides the high-quality service that Canadians expect at a reasonable price and better reaches Canadians in rural and remote areas.”
Who commissioned this polling and why was it done?