Government Operations committee  Their part, as I said, is to improve services and seek a larger market share to increase revenue. That's better than making cuts until Canada Post is no longer viable, which would result in the corporation being privatized.

Government Operations committee  For decades, the workers have been suggesting ways to improve the services. They have also accepted setbacks and a major increase in their productivity.

Government Operations committee  Are you referring to something that was done contractually?

Government Operations committee  I'm aware that such a program existed, but I left almost three years ago. It might have been cancelled. I don't know. Such a program existed, at one point, and a financial reward was provided when Canada Post's management implemented an idea.

Government Operations committee  You want to know whether it's a symbol of national unity?

Government Operations committee  I'm not sure it's seen as a national symbol or a symbol of national unity.

Government Operations committee  I'm still a member. However, since I was elected to the Canadian Labour Congress, I left my position.

Government Operations committee  Do these forecasts come from the Conference Board of Canada?

Government Operations committee  Based on my experience, Canada Post greatly exaggerates future deficits. If you look back, you'll see that it's true. The Conference Board of Canada made similar predictions not so long ago, when the conservative government and Canada Post decided to move forward with budgets cu

Government Operations committee  Historically, the predictions have turned out to be false. Over a 21-year period, Canada Post has made annual profits 19 times. That's why the union members see things the way they do.

Government Operations committee  Yes, we're always in favour of being part of the discussion.

Government Operations committee  I can't remember exactly what year, but it has been a demand of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers in previous rounds of negotiations. It wasn't in recent years, but in the early 2000s we had those types of demands.

Government Operations committee  No. What you're talking about there is already a reality, as I mentioned, at the provincial level.

Government Operations committee  We've been pushing for this in consultations that the postal workers have—I used to have the environment file when I was there—and it could be a fleet of vehicles or retrofitting the post offices. If you look at the “Delivering Community Power” booklet that's been put out, there

Government Operations committee  Generally talking about services, definitely we would be opposed to closures of more post offices. If anybody thinks that the government's closing of urban post offices would not be followed by closures—that have already been happening for years, as a matter of fact—of rural post