Government Operations committee  Canada Post is looking at.... If you look at Manitoulin Island and Fort Qu'Appelle, Saskatchewan, you'll see that it's looked at enhancing the services through what it's calling “hubs” in order to see what would help drive extra revenue into that local post office and community.

Government Operations committee  I would be interested to hear the fallout from that motion that was just put forward and to see those numbers, because the numbers I'm looking at indicate that, between 1994 and 2007, there were 63 post offices closed, and, between 2007 and 2023, we have 321 post offices noted. I would be interested to hear that list of the 600 that was put forward in that earlier motion.

Government Operations committee  I would be very curious to see the list that Canada Post would produce to send that. I imagine that's where it was coming from.

Government Operations committee  A group 1 postmaster being paid at level 1 in January 2019 would have started at $17.04 per hour. Somebody at the same level in January 2023 would receive $18.44.

Government Operations committee  We would welcome all involvement, and early involvement is the key.

Government Operations committee  That's correct. That would be for a group 1 post office, and it's $1,357 per year. In order to request an increase to that, they have to supply all the revenue and expenses. What I referred to earlier as well was the survey we're doing. We've sent out approximately 300 surveys to group postmasters.

Government Operations committee  I can't speak to letter carriers, but I can speak to some of the rural communities that were being relocated because of fires or evacuation orders that were brought in. Our members were going above and beyond to forward mail to other local points where people could pick it up, so that they could maintain a sense of normalcy during those times.

Government Operations committee  Many times, we're being informed, it takes the latter. I will draw from the numbers in the 2016 executive summary that was presented. On the services that are owned and operated as public services, 88% of Canadians and 83% of businesses in rural communities believe that the mail is highly important and that Canada will always need a postal service.

Government Operations committee  Many times, when the local franchise decides to close, that's the nail in the coffin for the postal outlet in that community, sadly. That federal presence is lost in that community. Just because it's opened in a retail postal outlet doesn't mean it's going to maintain a post office in that community for years to come.

Government Operations committee  It would be interesting to see the approach taken if we weren't running two parallels on trying to set up a system to deliver without that post office in the community. I would like to see the level of approach that the corporation would take if it was 100% wanting to see that post office remain in the community.

Government Operations committee  Is the question directed to me?

Government Operations committee  Currently, in our collective agreement, there is what's been referred to as a two-tiered wage system. Our collective agreement is on the website, so it's public. From what we've experienced, any time you start somebody out at a reduced amount, when it's literally.... I won't say “pennies”, but when it's just above minimum wage, it's very hard to attract and maintain a viable workforce.

Government Operations committee  Many times, Canada Post will reach out through its community outreach program into the community. When it's speaking with representatives in the community, it will talk about postal service, but will fail to mention maintaining the same level of service. I'll give an example. Being able to go into a post office, and receiving all the services and products available through that local post office, isn't the same as having to drive 70 kilometres to pick up a parcel, and perhaps stop at a local retail outlet to purchase stamps.

Government Operations committee  With Canada Post, years ago the starting salary was considerably more than that of other jobs or opportunities they might find within their community. We find that's not the case nowadays. There have been some slight increases over the years, but they have not kept up if you consider that the cost of living has increased.

Government Operations committee  I can speak from a CPAA perspective. We're conducting a survey. We've had over 300 surveys that have gone out to group postmasters. To date, we don't have all the responses back, but it's appearing that about a $32,000 a month shortfall is what's coming back from these group postmasters that they're paying out-of-pocket in order to maintain that post office.