Mr. Speaker, I want to make sure that we understand exactly what this amendment means.
First, I understand that the union—and it was confirmed by the Bloc member who just spoke—asked the NDP and the Bloc to put forward this amendment because of fear. I have said it many times. The union has the fear that in the government's back pocket is the idea that it will privatize Canada Post. I repeat that the government has no intention of doing that. In French, in English and in Italian, the answer is no. I hope that is clear.
If it takes this amendment to have that assurance, then I am willing to accept the position of the Minister of Labour.
I would also note what the amendment adds. Yes, they put together certain words and then they added “consistent with the Canada Post Corporation Act”, which is perfectly agreeable, “and the viability and the financial stability of Canada Post”, taking into account all the other lines.
My English may not be good, so I will read it in French. In French it says:
<“consistent with the Canada Post Corporation Act and the viability and financial stability of Canada Post”.
Stability and financial viability for me means that any business, crown corporation or enterprise, to be financially viable and stable has to make a profit. Sometimes there are good days and sometimes there are rainy days. When a business does not make a profit, it needs the profit which it made the year before to ensure that the service will continue.
We want Canada Post to exist for years to come. It was the first institution in this country. We want it to continue to exist for a long time. We believe that Canadians should receive mail from coast to coast to coast. They should have a universal service and pay the same price wherever they live.
I agree with this amendment. However, financial stability and viability means that Canada Post has to be commercially viable. That is what the government did and what was mandated by the government. We told Canada Post very clearly that it had to freeze the price of stamps for two years and after two years it could increase it below inflation. We said not to close any more rural post offices.
We believe Canadians in rural communities have the right to a postal service. It is the only Canadian identity in those communities and we believe in that. In order to keep those services, we want improvements. For example, maybe the hon. members do not know but there was always this trouble that in a small community mail gets sorted in a big city before it comes back to be delivered in the small town. We changed that. Now the local mail is sorted locally and it is being delivered locally without going to the main city.
Canada Post is making improvements because it believes and we believe in service. With this amendment that the government accepts, I hope the union and the NDP and the Bloc realize and take away this notion of privatization which does not exist. I said it clearly. The government said it clearly. And my predecessors have said it very clearly. I hope that with that it is clear. However it is also clear that Canada Post has to be a viable and stable corporation to serve Canadians. Therefore it has to make profits.