Presentation by Hassan Yussuff, Secretary-Treasurer of the Canadian Labour Congress to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance Regarding ″An Act to Implement Certain Provisions of the Budget Tabled in Parliament on March 4, 2010 and Other Measures″ — Bill C-9 (Part 15)

Introduction

On behalf of the 3.2 million members of the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC), we want to thank you for giving us the opportunity to appear before your committee on the important public interest issues that are raised by Part 15 of Bill C-9.

The CLC brings together Canada’s national and international unions along with the provincial and territorial federations of labour and 130 district labour councils whose members work in virtually all sectors of the Canadian economy, in all occupations, in all parts of Canada.

The CLC represents workers in every province and territory, and in communities big and small. Included in that number are people who work for Canada Post, the members of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers, the Canadian Postmasters and Assistants Association, and the Public Service Alliance of Canada’s Union of Postal Communications Employees.

 

Impact of Part 15 of Bill C-9

We want to state at the outset that we are unequivocally opposed to any legislation that will weaken Canada Post’s ability to provide universal, affordable service to Canadians, wherever they live. We believe that maintaining and improving public postal services is what provides the most benefit to the population and to all sectors overall.

Part 15 of Bill C-9 represents an attempt to partially deregulate Canada Post. If it becomes law, it would send a significant signal to the corporate sector that the door has been opened to further postal deregulation, especially given this current government’s ideological stand favouring deregulation and privatization of public services.

When Canada Post was granted the exclusive privilege to deliver international and domestic mail in 1981, it was because our legislators understood that market forces alone cannot guarantee a reasonable level of service at affordable prices to all Canadians, regardless of where they live or what their economic status is.

The exclusive privilege is a reflection of principles of equality and common commitment that our society values highly. We believe that all Canadians, no matter where they live in this vast landmass of ours, must be guaranteed access to public services. These principles are why we built an extensive transportation system in Canada, and created universal public services such as health care, education and, of course, postal services.

The exclusive privilege is the means by which the post office is able to fund its universal service obligation to service and link Canadians from coast, to coast, to coast. If passed, Part 15 of Bill C-9 will have a detrimental impact on Canada’s public postal services. Canada Post already foregos revenue to illegally operating international re-mailers. If the exclusive privilege is eroded, it is very likely that the re-mailing business will grow, and Canada Post will lose more of the international letter business...