Government Operations committee  It all depends on when you started. If you started within the last two or three years, you're making $19 per hour times 80 times 26. If you were lucky enough to start three or four years ago, you're making $26 times 80 times 26.

Government Operations committee  Sure. As I mentioned before, we're still delivering parcels, which is a huge business. We're still delivering parcels seven days a week. But taking away that five-days-a-week service is weakening the brand. People actually still—

Government Operations committee  That's right. They're delivering parcels; they're delivering the Admail; and they're delivering the letter mail. It's amazing how much Admail these workers get. They're getting five or seven sets a day.

Government Operations committee  If in the wintertime they're going through with this, this, and this,.... Let me tell you about Admail. It works.

Government Operations committee  It really works, because these businesses wouldn't be sending these Admails out, whether it's for McDonald's or it's an IKEA catalogue—

Government Operations committee  Sure.

Government Operations committee  The Admail is just a huge, huge money-maker for Canada Post. It charges the customer, 15 cents, 20 cents, 25 cents, even 50 cents per piece for Admail, and the customer brings it to the post office. A union person brings it straight to the carrier and they pay the carrier two cents or three cents per piece to deliver those items.

Government Operations committee  It is gravy and—

Government Operations committee  Mr. Whalen, if you ask me, in these times.... If you are starting at Canada Post today, at $19 an hour, and actually working really hard until dark, when you can get jobs that are much easier for $15, $17, or $19 an hour.... I believe they are underpaid. It's a tough go for young people starting off at $19 an hour to raise a family, buy diapers, and put food on the table.

Government Operations committee  Thank you. I can only bring up the urban issue. As far as losing the door-to-door delivery goes, they talk about the savings and the costs of adding more calls onto one's mail route, but there's also the added cost with these super mailboxes since you need to have a vehicle. That involves purchasing a vehicle, servicing a vehicle, filling that vehicle with gas, moving about the city, paying for insurance, and, if I may say so, having accidents.

Government Operations committee  Yes.

Government Operations committee  I wasn't informed of anything. Basically I was a common man who went to work every day. I polished my shoes; I pressed my shirt; I went to work. I know of no five-point plan. The only five-point plan I know is to get up in the morning, pay my bills, go to work, kiss my wife, and go to bed.

Government Operations committee  You know, when I go to the Superstore, I see that they've opened a bank. I hear that they are taking away from the private sector. Come on—the world is open to everybody. These 50,000 people are all paying their taxes. They are not lined up at Service Canada to get their unemployment cheque.

Government Operations committee  Thank you very much. My name is Frank Goldie. I was a letter carrier for 38 years. I started at the post office when I was 16 years old and I just recently retired at 55. I've seen a lot of changes happen—some good, some bad. We're here today to talk about how the post office is changing.