Evidence of meeting #47 for Government Operations and Estimates in the 45th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was going.
A recording is available from Parliament.
President and Chief Executive Officer, Canada Post Corporation
Yes, thank you.
Bloc
Marie-Hélène Gaudreau Bloc Laurentides—Labelle, QC
Can you tell us today whether, over the past 12 months, Canada Post has communicated with all the municipalities potentially affected by any current or potential changes to the postal network and by the lifting of the moratorium?
Has there been an official letter sent to those municipalities?
President and Chief Executive Officer, Canada Post Corporation
The community mailboxes program is really the only full program we have approval for right now. As I said, we've contacted all of those communities. There are 51 communities with over 600,000 addresses that will be converted to community mailboxes. They have been contacted. We are in motion with them, working through it, hearing from them and getting their feedback.
As you're saying, quite rightly, we have not done that with the post offices yet because we're not quite ready, but as soon as we're ready and we have full approval, you'll be the first one to receive the list and the communities. I promise you that.
Conservative
Conservative
Tamara Jansen Conservative Cloverdale—Langley City, BC
Mr. Ettinger, Canada Post needs another $1 billion in taxpayer support to remain operational. At the same time, I understand that the corporation has committed itself to a $1-billion net-zero transformation.
I'm wondering whether the priority going forward will be becoming profitable or meeting climate targets. Your plan estimates $1 billion to transition Canada Post to a low-carbon operating model. Is that still your estimate?
President and Chief Executive Officer, Canada Post Corporation
Our goal is—
Conservative
Tamara Jansen Conservative Cloverdale—Langley City, BC
I was looking for a yes-or-no answer. Is that still your estimate?
President and Chief Executive Officer, Canada Post Corporation
We want to get our north star to get to break-even over the next five years. That's the answer from a financial point of view.
Conservative
Tamara Jansen Conservative Cloverdale—Langley City, BC
I asked if your estimate for the transition to low carbon is still $1 billion.
President and Chief Executive Officer, Canada Post Corporation
We've had to pause and defer quite a few of our environmental programs, for example, electric vehicles, due to affordability.
Conservative
Tamara Jansen Conservative Cloverdale—Langley City, BC
Okay. That's great.
I'd like to follow up with a few more questions.
Of that $1 billion, how much has already been spent?
Perhaps Ms. El-Hage knows.
Rindala El-Hage Chief Financial Officer, Canada Post Corporation
Thank you, Doug.
Thank you for the question.
As Doug mentioned, right now, our focus is absolutely—
Conservative
Chief Financial Officer, Canada Post Corporation
I don't have that particular dollar figure offhand, but we can get it to you.
Conservative
Tamara Jansen Conservative Cloverdale—Langley City, BC
It would be great if you could do that. Thank you.
Chief Financial Officer, Canada Post Corporation
We are continuing those investments.
Conservative
Tamara Jansen Conservative Cloverdale—Langley City, BC
I have a few questions in relation to that.
Does the $1-billion estimate include the full cost of electrifying 100% of the fleet by 2040, as you have in your transition plan?
Chief Financial Officer, Canada Post Corporation
The envelope that was previously released includes that. Yes.
Conservative
Tamara Jansen Conservative Cloverdale—Langley City, BC
How much have you spent to date, while you were having struggles, on electric vehicles?
Chief Financial Officer, Canada Post Corporation
As Doug iterated, we had to delay those investments.
Conservative
Chief Financial Officer, Canada Post Corporation
Not to the level we had committed to. We had to stop it due—
Conservative
