Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I like to thank the witnesses here with us today.
Mr. Verleysen, to you and your entire family, please accept my sincere condolences on the passing of your sister. I hope we will be able to make changes so that this kind of situation occurs as rarely as possible. We know that it can happen, but we wouldn't wish it on anyone.
Mr. Ettinger, the Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities called you to appear twice to testify. After you refused twice, we had to send you a subpoena. If I were in your shoes and I saw people were insisting that I testify before the committee, I would ask myself a few questions. I would think that perhaps I'm being called to appear because it's important. If they're insisting, it's probably because there's a good reason for them to insist.
I must admit that I've been a member of Parliament for a decade now, and in my 10 years on the Hill, I've never seen a Crown corporation refuse to testify. Right now, we are pouring public funds into Canada Post and keeping you afloat with taxpayers money. I find it absolutely unacceptable that you refused to come here to explain yourself, to be held accountable, and that we had to force you to be here.
Don't you find it shameful that we had to force you to testify today?