Transport Committee on Oct. 26th, 2010

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

I'd like to table a subamendment to G-1--we can call it G-2--so that we would provide for a reduced rate of postage for a period of at least 10 years.

The reason for that is I think there should be a period of time to give this some lifespan, so that we have an imposed period where there will automatically be a review. It's less likely, I feel, to be repealed in that case, because there is a prescribed timeframe. As we discussed earlier, media do evolve and change very quickly, so there would be an opportunity at a minimum of every 10 years to go in and review the legislation. At least we'll know that rate will be guaranteed for a period of 10 years as well.

[The Vice-Chair, Liberal, John McCallum]

Mr. Jean.

[Brian Jean, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB]

My only difficulty with this, and I'd like to hear points of view on it, is that if we say for 10 years, a prescribed period, and Parliament doesn't get back to reviewing that, are we not then enabling Canada Post to decide to automatically increase it after 10 years? That's my difficulty. I'd prefer that there is no prescribed time and there is a review recommended to be done in relation to either the definition or the rate. I just don't want to see a situation where Canada Post comes forward and says, it's at 10 years, the library book rate is over.

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

Perhaps we can ask the author of the bill, but I understand that his intent is that it only be reviewed and altered through an order in council, if I'm not mistaken.

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

That's the way the bill is constructed right now.

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

I'm just suggesting that there be a review of it every 10 years.

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

I have no problem with the review. I just don't think it's the committee's responsibility to set the rates. That's done by application of Canada Post to the government and to members of Parliament, who will then make that decision.

I think every piece of legislation should be reviewed. I think if you want to add a subamendment, it might even be as clear as that: that this bill be subject to a review after 10 years to see, one, how it's working out for both parties.

[Brian Jean, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB]

The only thing I'm suggesting is...I think that's great, but possibly it should be in a different section. How I read it under that proposal is it enables Canada Post to automatically, after 10 years, say, you know what, the reduced rate is for 10 years; therefore, we don't have to do the reduced rate. If Parliament gets around to reviewing it in the next 10 years, that will be a miracle.

I think the review's a great idea--

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

Right.

[Brian Jean, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB]

--and however that is to be done and the reporting mechanism for that, but I think what we should do is make sure it's not in the same paragraph as a reduced rate, just to make sure Canada Post does not reduce the rate automatically without coming back to Parliament.

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

Right, but my intent was that the rate would be protected for a minimum of 10 years and the rate could not be altered otherwise--

[Brian Jean, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB]

For 10 years.

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

--except by an order in council following, not by Canada Post.

[Brian Jean, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB]

But you're restricting it to 10 years.

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

Yes, and the legislation would be reviewed every 10 years. We would alter the rate after the 10-year period only.

[Brian Jean, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB]

I've only been here for seven years, but I see very few times where timeliness follows legislation. That's the difficulty I have. I don't think Parliament is going to get back to it in 10 years. I think it's great if it does, but I don't want to trust that to happen and in the meantime have Canada Post increase the rate to users.

Mr. Chair, have you thought about that in relation to this particular amendment? Sorry, Mr. Chair, I mean the proponent.

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

I worry about the way it's stated as 10 years. I think the review in 10 years is fine, but again, If you say “prescribed for 10 years” and, as Mr. Jean suggested, if government doesn't review it, it may open the door for Canada Post to say the agreement has been for 10 years and now it's over.

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

But the protection exists.

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

It will exist, but I think if you put a timeframe on it, you're actually saying it will exist until that end date.

[The Vice-Chair, Liberal, John McCallum]

Marcel Proulx.

[Marcel Proulx, Liberal, Hull—Aylmer, QC]

Am I to understand from Mr. Jean and Mr. Tweed that without putting in the 10-year provision, this reduced rate of postage will exist until it's changed by Parliament?

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

What the bill is suggesting is that before Canada Post can raise the rate, they would have to bring it before executive council and ask for that increase. Previously they've had the ability to raise the rate without any government approval. I'm trying to protect libraries from waking up in the morning and having their rates go back to 100%.

[Marcel Proulx, Liberal, Hull—Aylmer, QC]

Therefore, if we put in the 10-year period, for the first 10 years nothing can happen, and then after 10 years they would still have to come back to request permission?

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

Again, my intent was not to actually set the rate; mine was to fix the rate or make it so that Canada Post had to apply before they could increase the rate. I don't think it's the committee's responsibility to set the rates. I think it's up to Canada Post to tell the government what they need and have government or members of Parliament approve it.

[The Vice-Chair, Liberal, John McCallum]

Okay.

Mr. Jean.