Thank you, Mr. Chair.
The PCO poll that we're deeply concerned about reinforced something that we already know about. Rural post offices need to remain open. For many rural residents in Canada, the post office is where they conduct business. I know from my own experience living in Tofino, B.C., that the post office is the anchor for local commerce. I ran the chamber of commerce there. It's part of local rural communities.
We believe that rural post offices could play a much bigger role in communities, which is why we want to expand services, including postal banking. The big banks are abandoning rural communities right now, leaving many without access to banking services despite record profits. By offering banking services through its network of over 6,000 postal outlets, many in rural areas, Canada Post could overnight become the most accessible bank in the country.
I'd like to ask you about the market testing that Canada Post has undertaken related to postal banking. Rural, northern and small communities are in serious need of banking services, as I've outlined. Many of those banks are closing right now. My colleagues in the NDP have raised this many times.
Can you provide the committee with an update as to how many market test sites are currently operating, how Canada Post is informing its clients about banking services that are being implemented, and how you are measuring the success of the market testing? Finally, are plans in place for a national rollout of banking services at Canada Post locations?