Lisa Raitt

[Canada Post, January 29th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, Canada Post is an arm's-length crown corporation and makes its own decisions on a day-to-day basis. One of the decisions that it has taken is to address its issues with respect to its business model by putting this five-point action plan together.

However, the reality of the situation is that currently two thirds of Canadian households already receive their mail in these community mailboxes. The other one third will be converted to do the same over the next five years.

[Canada Post, January 29th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, as I said yesterday, there are one billion fewer pieces of mail being put in the system than there were in 2006, and as a result Canada Post is facing an issue with respect to its business model. It has chosen to put together a five-point action plan and has the support of the government.

[Quebec Bridge, January 28th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, as the member opposite knows, CN is the owner of the bridge and has responsibility for it. In August 2013, Transport Canada inspected the rail; the rail is safe. It is the responsibility of the province to inspect the road associated with it. Of course, the bridge is CN's responsibility and it too has indicated, after inspection, that the bridge is safe.

[Rail Transportation, January 28th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, my colleague, the member for Parliament for Sault Ste. Marie, is working with me on the matter. However, that being said, we did tell CN that we would not be subsidizing this rail line any more. The reality is that CN is a $9 billion company and hardworking tax dollars from the Canadian public should not go to subsidize a company of that size.

[Canada Post, January 28th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, perhaps some facts would be helpful in this matter.

Already two-thirds of Canadian addresses do not have door-to-door delivery; they have community mailboxes or rural box areas.

What we are talking about is one-third. I am sure members realize that there are slippery sidewalks for the other two-thirds of the people who clearly do not receive door-to-door delivery.

It is something Canada Post has experience in dealing with. It will accommodate, when it has requests to do so. We anticipate that, as it rolls out its plan, it will do so in a very thoughtful manner.

[Canada Post, January 28th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, the reality of the situation is this: one billion fewer pieces of mail are being mailed. People are making different choices.

It is the digital era, and so Canada Post must be able to address these matters and remain self-sufficient. It has a plan. It is putting it into action. We hope it does mean that it will be self-sustaining in the future.

[Canada Post, January 28th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the member of Parliament for CUPW for the question on the matter—

[Rail Transportation, January 28th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, with respect to the record of members opposite, that is the group that decided to vote against our proposals to increase rail safety in this country. It is pretty rich for them right now to ask us what we are doing. We have increased inspections and increased the money. The top priority in our minds is the health and safety of Canadians.

The reality is that these cars are international in scope. Traffic flows between the United States and Canada. We are working with our counterparts in the United States to address this matter.

[Rail Transportation, January 28th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, we thank the Transportation Safety Board for its recommendations. This government has acted since the Lac-Mégantic tragedy that occurred this summer.

What we have done with respect to the DOT-111 cars is very clear. We have asked an advisory group on the transportation of dangerous goods to come together and study the matter. It is industry-led. It will be giving us its report by the end of January.

More importantly, two weeks ago we published tougher rules and regulations in order to ensure that new cars are going to be built to the greater standard.

[Canada Post, January 28th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, the point of the matter is the fact that one billion fewer pieces of mail were mailed in 2012 than were mailed in 2006. Canada Post understands that it has to make changes to remain self-sufficient. It has had that responsibility since 1981. Its five-point action plan addresses this matter, and that is why we are supporting it.