Filomena Tassi

[Business of Supply, May 19th, 2022]

Mr. Chair, again, I have spoken about that this evening and have gone over a number of times the efforts we are making in procurement with respect to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and ensuring that we are minimizing plastic and waste.

One of the other things I would like to add is electric vehicles. We know there is the ability for us to act there too, and we are. In the past three years, we have procured 1,187 zero-emission and hybrid vehicles, another area where we can show leadership and do our part with respect to meeting targets.

[Business of Supply, May 19th, 2022]

Mr. Chair, I am here this evening to talk about the procurement file and on the procurement file, I say there are a number of initiatives. I have gone over those initiatives. We absolutely appreciate the crisis that we are in, and we have aggressive measures that we are taking in order to meet our commitments. We are going to continue on that path.

[Business of Supply, May 19th, 2022]

Mr. Chair, with respect to PSPC, I can talk about initiatives that we are undertaking. In addition to the figures I gave on what we have done in our strategies with reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, we are also undertaking other efforts, which include procurement practices that prioritize reusable and recyclable products and our goal of net-zero plastic waste. We are going to continue also to work with our colleagues to introduce a new buy clean strategy and support and prioritize made-in-Canada, low-carbon products.

[Business of Supply, May 19th, 2022]

Mr. Chair, I want to thank the hon. member for acknowledging my stamina this evening, but I am also surrounded by an amazing team, so I have great gratitude for all those who are here and, as I said previously, spread out all over in order to assist me this evening. For the work of my team, I am just so grateful.

In the answers that I did give previously, I actually stated that, with the initiatives we are undertaking, we would be achieving reductions of 82% in greenhouse gas emissions by 2025, and we are in a very good position to achieve net zero by 2030 for our building portfolio.

[Business of Supply, May 19th, 2022]

Mr. Chair, the member shared such important information, and I thank him for outlining the commitments that we have made in the budget.

Shared Services Canada is doing fantastic work. Cybersecurity is extremely important. We are making the investments we need to keep the system safe. I want to thank all the workers for their great work, particularly during this very challenging time.

[Business of Supply, May 19th, 2022]

Mr. Chair, I am already acting. I have taken this under advisement. The team has reached out to Canada Post to have a discussion about this very issue.

I respect what the member is saying, but there are other issues related to this. It is not an indigenous issue: it is a rural area that becomes urbanized. I appreciate his comments that it never was rural, but it was designated rural by Canada Post. We are looking into this. We will continue to work with the member. I appreciate his concern and his bringing this to my attention.

[Business of Supply, May 19th, 2022]

Mr. Chair, what I would say in response to this, just to give a little more background and information as to where we are, is this is about the location. There are communities across the country that are in similar situations. Since the implementation of the rural moratorium in 1994, Canada's rate of urbanization has progressed every year. Many of the locations that were deemed to be rural at the time of the moratorium have since become urbanized. That is what is at the root of this issue.

In order for Wendake to be classified as an urban community, the rural moratorium would need to be amended to represent current demographics. I am in discussions, as I have said, with Canada Post on this. It is not an easy fix. it is more complicated than one might first think. It has to deal with the change in the nature of the rural communities and how they are urbanized.

[Business of Supply, May 19th, 2022]

Mr. Chair, I thank my colleague for the question.

First, I want to take the opportunity to thank Canada Post. During the pandemic, postal employees have worked tirelessly. I know that Canada Post wanted to keep its workers safe, but postal workers, in turn, wanted to keep Canadians safe, so they exercised measures and delivered life-saving medicines and important mail. I want to thank all postal workers for their excellent service.

I am pleased to have the opportunity to address the member's question. In order to provide timely and consistent service to all Canadians, the cost of mailing items varies depending on the size of the parcel, the distance between origin and destination and the cost of transportation, processing and delivery. Of course, all these decisions are made by Canada Post.

With respect to the issue he is raising, at the root of this issue is that urban cities continue to grow and include rural communities, and this creates a challenge. We are working with Canada Post on the designation of rural versus urban communities. Canada Post works hard to ensure that its prices remain competitive while providing a wide range of services. This has to do with the designation of rural. Time has passed, and communities that previously may have looked rural look different now, so we are working with Canada Post on this.

[Business of Supply, May 19th, 2022]

Mr. Chair, that is a question for DND.

[Business of Supply, May 19th, 2022]

Mr. Chair, what I would say is I am happy to have my team get back to the hon. member with respect to the details. In the official residence portfolio, which is the six official residences and 49 ancillary buildings, 62% are in poor or critical condition. This is an area on which we have to act, but of course it is the NCC that oversees the operation and maintenance of those buildings.