I certainly appreciate the feedback. I would also say that these communities are dealing with flu outbreaks that are killing people year after year. We're talking about the value of lives, and lives that shouldn't be lost to the flu in a country like Canada.
I think we all know Indian Affairs gives a great deal of money towards a winter road system that is lasting less and less as a result of climate change. This situation, on the hands of the federal government is, I would argue, simply unsustainable in terms of the human cost. Perhaps we need to look at reallocating funds from the winter road system going towards a more permanent base, which I know certainly some first nations that are further along the planning stages have been talking about as well.
My final question is this. Mr. Merrifield, given the real concern that exists in rural and northern communities with respect to the lack of funding that trickles down to smaller post offices, which is resulting in cuts in service--I'm not saying the elimination of postal offices, but certainly the failure to replace retired workers, the inability to retain workers, the contracting out of positions that I can certainly say has resulted in the lack of mail delivery in communities that I represent, and I certainly echo concerns from rural and northern communities--I'd like to hear what kinds of commitments are being made by the government with respect to the support that Canada Post requires in delivering a service that is quite different in rural and northern Canada.