Transport Committee on March 26th, 2007

[Paul Dewar, NDP, Ottawa Centre, ON]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you to our guests for being present today.

I know that it's the intent of the committee to talk to government representatives in the future, so I'll have to limit my questions to, obviously, Canada Post.

I've written to you, Ms. Greene, and you've been clear that there have been no discussions about privatization, and that's been unequivocal. I just wanted to ask, while we're here in committee and on the record, about the whole issue of deregulation. Is that something you've discussed in your plans? Have you talked to the government about it? Is deregulation on the table?

[Moya Greene]

No. The government has never discussed deregulation with me. I am in contact with CEOs of other postal administrations around the world. So I'm au courant with how liberalization of the market and deregulation efforts have proceeded in other parts of the world. The Government of Canada has never discussed deregulation with me.

[Paul Dewar, NDP, Ottawa Centre, ON]

What if I were the minister and I said to you, “Ms. Greene, I'm looking at deregulation. What do you think?”

[Moya Greene]

What I would say about postal markets is the following, Mr. Dewar. Liberalization and deregulation are initiatives and measures that can be done successfully if done in an orderly way. If not done in an orderly way, they have disastrous impacts, and I will give you an example. In the case of the United Kingdom—

[Paul Dewar, NDP, Ottawa Centre, ON]

Yes.

[Moya Greene]

—where the government introduced liberalization of the market before allowing the postal administration to adjust, it lost one billion pounds in a single year.

[Paul Dewar, NDP, Ottawa Centre, ON]

Exactly.

And I'm sorry to cut you off, but I only have a little bit of time.

You're aware that the C.D. Howe Institute recently came out in favour of a study of privatization of Canada Post.

[Moya Greene]

Yes.

[Paul Dewar, NDP, Ottawa Centre, ON]

Canada Post is a member of the C.D. Howe Institute.

[Moya Greene]

Yes, Canada Post is.

[Paul Dewar, NDP, Ottawa Centre, ON]

When the C.D. Howe Institute carried out this kind of study, was there anyone at the corporation who was responsible for liaising with the C.D. Howe Institute? As a member, did you provide them carte blanche the information on whatever they wanted to do the study? How did that work?

[Moya Greene]

No, but when the C.D. Howe Institute or any business organization asks Canada Post for factual information, of course we will check facts and we will make sure that it's reasonably--

[Paul Dewar, NDP, Ottawa Centre, ON]

So they had the same window on Canada Post as Mr. Tilson, here, or Mr. Tilson's constituents?

[Moya Greene]

Yes.

[Paul Dewar, NDP, Ottawa Centre, ON]

So there was no exclusivity there? I say that because most Canadians would be a little surprised to find that Canada Post was involved with the C.D. Howe Institute, which is involved in a study and which came out with this.

[Moya Greene]

The C.D. Howe Institute is one of the biggest business organizations in Canada.

[Paul Dewar, NDP, Ottawa Centre, ON]

I'm fully aware of that, but you're a crown corporation, Ms. Greene, and I think it's kind of strange--beyond strange for many--that you would be a member of the C.D. Howe Institute. That's not to say that they don't do excellent work, as do others.

We have a crown corporation as a member of this, and then they come out in the public square telling people, “Here is what we think of privatization. It's a good idea.” I'm concerned about--and I think a lot of people would be concerned about--where the corporation is going.

But, alas, I have only a little bit of time here.

Concerning the moratorium, I just want to be straight-up here. Last June the government announced that it would be continuing the moratorium on post office closures in rural small towns, etc., but it did not issue a list of the offices that were covered. The government indicated that Canada Post is in a better position to provide that list. Do you have a list of those offices that the government is telling us to talk to you about? Is there a list? Can the committee have it?

[Moya Greene]

I don't have the list with me, but yes, we do understand, generally speaking, what is meant by the moratorium, and what the moratorium applies to and what it does not apply to.

[Paul Dewar, NDP, Ottawa Centre, ON]

I'm seeing Mr. Feeney. Can you provide us with a list?

[Gordon Feeney, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Canada Post Corporation]

I don't know if some of our people were nodding or not, back there, but—

[Paul Dewar, NDP, Ottawa Centre, ON]

Okay, if you could provide the committee with the list, that would be most helpful.

Thank you very much.

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

Mr. Tilson.

[David Tilson, Conservative, Dufferin—Caledon, ON]

I'd like to ask a question with respect to the directive to restore and maintain rural mail delivery. What's the best way to do that?

[Moya Greene]

What is the best way to restore mail delivery?

[David Tilson, Conservative, Dufferin—Caledon, ON]

And maintain rural mail delivery.