Transport committee  Certainly. In terms of percent on time, Purolator has to achieve a 97% on-time rate. It's actually recorded daily. We provide those services to the control offices between Purolator, Canada Post, and the rest of the companies we carry air freight for, each and every day. On a quarterly basis, Purolator actually has to meet with Canada Post, and they go through and audit the performance metrics and the costs that have been incurred, including the price of the fuel.

Transport committee  Sir, if I can correct you, it was a special capability we were awarded. It was the equipment, Purolator's capability, which outstretched anybody else, with the exception of Air Canada.

Transport committee  Kelowna Flightcraft.... I think for the benefit of the committee I should share what Purolator does and what Kelowna does, and that may help. Purolator establishes the relationship with our customers. We provide the pickup, delivery, the scheduling, and the loading of our pickup and delivery vehicles.

Transport committee  The requirement on the RFI was to move a certain number of pounds of mail based on schedules to certain cities across western Canada, from Ontario out to British Columbia. Based on that requirement, we responded with the best proposal we saw. That's why we provided the types of planes we did to meet those schedules and the airlift requirements.

Transport committee  I've been with Purolator for 21 years. I can speak in great detail about Purolator's capabilities. Our competitors are fine companies. I can't speak about their capabilities.

Transport committee  Sir, I will answer the question. First of all, we were invited to come and share views with this committee, and we're very pleased to do so. In terms of Air Canada's relationship and dealings with Canada Post, I can't comment on that. I represent Purolator. I can tell you anything about Purolator.

Transport committee  Yes.

Transport committee  The margins in Purolator vary, but the margins in our industry can be greater than 15%.

Transport committee  The only service we provide is if Purolator has a direct sales agreement with a customer, and then we'll provide that, whether it's air transportation or ground transportation, to get that product to the end destination.

Transport committee  It would be more a question for Canada Post, because we don't know the grounds of the NAFTA RFP. When an RFI, whether it's by NAFTA or any other means, is issued into the marketplace for companies such as ours to tender, we will respond immediately. Our response can usually be given within a 30-day timeframe, due, of course, to being in that line of business.

Transport committee  I can answer that. What Purolator does have at its disposal is that we've been operating in Canada in this business for 48 years—aside from Air Canada, longer than anybody else. Over that period of time, we've invested significantly, in this case, with the airports, in facilities at those 14 airport locations, multiple ones in certain provinces such as Ontario and Quebec.

Transport committee  We're the only carrier that provides direct service to Canada. We have over 143 locations operated by Purolator personnel. Unlike our foreign multinational competitors who subcontract that out, we actually employ Canadians in the communities as far up as Yellowknife, Kapuskasing, Rimouski, Gander, St.

Transport committee  Yes, we are.

Transport committee  Yes. We fly in with a Convair.

Transport committee  There was no requirement to restructure.