Transport Committee on Oct. 26th, 2010

[The Vice-Chair, Liberal, John McCallum]

Good morning.

I think we will begin now. We're considering Bill C-509, beginning with clause 1.

I'm sorry. Mr. Tweed is going to make a statement.

[Merv Tweed, Conservative, Brandon—Souris, MB]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Very briefly, as you consider my bill clause by clause, I would explain the impetus behind it. During the course of a campaign, I discovered that Canada Post offers libraries a reduced rate to move books back and forth across not only the province but across the country, and this amendment will actually put that discounted postal rate into legislation. That was the intent, so that libraries could feel confident that they weren't going to wake up some morning and find the rates had either been increased to full retail, or any amount, and that if Canada Post were to decide to increase the amount, it would have to come to the executive council of cabinet for a final decision.

There are a couple of amendments being proposed. I have seen them and I certainly agree with them. With that, I thank the committee for its hard work and also the House for its unanimous approval to bring the bill forward to committee.

Thank you.

[The Vice-Chair, Liberal, John McCallum]

Thank you very much, Mr. Tweed.

Now we'll go to a round of questions or comments, beginning with Bonnie Crombie.

[Bonnie Crombie, Liberal, Mississauga—Streetsville, ON]

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

I'd like to thank the member for the bill. I do support it, as my party does support greater service and access for affordable library materials for all Canadians, especially Canadians in rural and remote areas, seniors, and Canadians with disabilities, and we think this bill may do that. Canadians rely on the book rate for transferring materials across the country, as we know.

Libraries have become dependent on the book rate; this allows them to transfer the material more comfortably around the country. It's imperative that our libraries are well stocked, and we are concerned that the larger metropolitan libraries would stockpile or hoard some of the more modern media that's available, without the ability to transfer them affordably. So I commend you for this initiative, as that will assist, in a very cost-effective way, to transfer materials.

I do have a couple of questions for you. I wondered if you had considered how we can ensure that Canada Post maintains this reduced library book rate for a greater amount of time, not necessarily in perpetuity.

[Merv Tweed, Conservative, Brandon—Souris, MB]

The intent of putting the amendment forward into the legislation was to eliminate the doubt that some of the libraries had. As it stands now, Canada Post can raise that rate without any formality, and that was the fear that libraries had. By ensconcing it into legislation, it actually means that before Canada Post can raise the rate, it would have to come before Parliament.

[Bonnie Crombie, Liberal, Mississauga—Streetsville, ON]

Is there not a concern that it could be repealed through orders in council?

[Merv Tweed, Conservative, Brandon—Souris, MB]

Yes, it could be, but I would think that any responsible government would think twice about doing something like that. That's why I wanted it to be brought before parliamentarians for that decision, because I think it would be very difficult for members of Parliament to go back to their communities and say they voted against our libraries.

[Bonnie Crombie, Liberal, Mississauga—Streetsville, ON]

How often can Canada Post seek an increase in the library book rate today?

[Merv Tweed, Conservative, Brandon—Souris, MB]

Right now they have the ability to do it whenever they choose.

[Bonnie Crombie, Liberal, Mississauga—Streetsville, ON]

How often do they do it?

[Merv Tweed, Conservative, Brandon—Souris, MB]

They haven't done it for the last several years, but it's a year-to-year agreement, and this would actually guarantee that before they can increase the rate, they would have to come before Parliament. That's the intent of what I'm trying to do.

[Bonnie Crombie, Liberal, Mississauga—Streetsville, ON]

The bill will confirm that Parliament's approval is necessary before the rate be increased, decreased, or changed in any way.

[Merv Tweed, Conservative, Brandon—Souris, MB]

Absolutely.

[Bonnie Crombie, Liberal, Mississauga—Streetsville, ON]

We know there's a small loss in revenue for Canada Post. It's small, and certainly it's probably worthwhile as a cost of doing business in providing this service. Is there any thought to compensating Canada Post for the greater revenue loss that this will certainly predict?

[Merv Tweed, Conservative, Brandon—Souris, MB]

There is a clause in the bill that addresses that. My thinking is that over time, as we move away from books into video, I hope we'll actually reduce the cost to Canada Post.

[Bonnie Crombie, Liberal, Mississauga—Streetsville, ON]

My final question is this. I had a thought that if we put a timeframe around this to allow a review of the book rate so that we would ensure that the rate would come under review over a specific and set timeframe, no matter what it be--I was suggesting every ten years, but it could be sooner, it could be later--it would help protect Canada Post and it would help protect the libraries as well. Do you have any thoughts about that?

[Merv Tweed, Conservative, Brandon—Souris, MB]

I have no objection to it. In fact, one of the discussions I had early in preparing the bill was that all legislation should come under review after a period of time to make sure it's working and doing what it was implied to do, but also to hear the concerns from the parties that are involved in it.

I have no problem with that at all.

[Bonnie Crombie, Liberal, Mississauga—Streetsville, ON]

Thank you very much.

[The Vice-Chair, Liberal, John McCallum]

We will continue with Mr. Guimond or Mr. Nadeau. It is your turn.

[Michel Guimond, Bloc, Montmorency—Charlevoix—Haute-Côte-Nord, QC]

I share Ms. Crombie's concerns regarding the duration of the rate. I think it is a good amendment by the Liberals. I have no other questions.

[The Vice-Chair, Liberal, John McCallum]

That is it?

Mr. Bevington, your turn.

[Michel Guimond, Bloc, Montmorency—Charlevoix—Haute-Côte-Nord, QC]

You are not used to hearing that sort of thing out of me.

[Some hon. members]

Ha, ha!

[The Vice-Chair, Liberal, John McCallum]

Okay.

[Dennis Bevington, NDP, Western Arctic, NT]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I really don't have much to add to this, other than to say congratulations on getting a bill through Parliament unanimously.

I have a question on the amendments. Are you satisfied with the nature of the amendments, that they will assist your bill?