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Decentralized Democracy

House Hansard - 75

44th Parl. 1st Sess.
May 19, 2022 10:00AM
Context: House Hansard - 75 - May/19/22
Hon. Filomena Tassi
  • May/19/22 10:39:34 p.m.
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Mr. Chair, what I would say in response to that question is that the pilot we are running actually includes a postal banking service because we know this has been raised. We look forward to the results of what this pilot reveals.
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Ms. Lori Idlout
  • May/19/22 10:39:51 p.m.
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Mr. Chair, I do look forward to that information. I will help the minister with some of these questions. Nunavut has 25 post offices in all 25 communities. It has eight banks. I am quite sure that the realities are similar in indigenous communities. I am going to ask the minister a yes-or-no question. Does the minister agree that access to affordable, quality banking is a challenge for Nunavut and for indigenous communities?
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Hon. Filomena Tassi
  • May/19/22 10:40:24 p.m.
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Mr. Chair, I am not going to purport to know the experience of indigenous people in those communities. I am happy to work with the member to have discussions so that we can determine pathways forward that are going to respond to those needs and issues.
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Ms. Lori Idlout
  • May/19/22 10:40:46 p.m.
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Mr. Chair, does the minister agree that learning this information and addressing the systemic inequity can address reconciliation with indigenous peoples?
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Hon. Filomena Tassi
  • May/19/22 10:41:02 p.m.
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Mr. Chair, I am always willing to learn, and I think learning is a very important part of our journey on reconciliation.
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Ms. Lori Idlout
  • May/19/22 10:41:14 p.m.
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Mr. Chair, is the minister aware that Australia has operated a postal operating system that offers over 3,500 post offices with access to banking services?
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Hon. Filomena Tassi
  • May/19/22 10:41:27 p.m.
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Mr. Chair, I know that banking services have been discussed repeatedly and that there are models out there. Again, this is why the pilot is important. We are running pilots like this in order to gather information to determine pathways forward with respect to ensuring that Canadians are receiving the supports and services they need from Canada Post.
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Ms. Lori Idlout
  • May/19/22 10:41:53 p.m.
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Mr. Chair, does the minister agree that it is within her mandate to work with Canada Post to develop a postal banking system?
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Hon. Filomena Tassi
  • May/19/22 10:42:03 p.m.
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Mr. Chair, I believe it is in my mandate to work with Canada Post to deliver services that Canadians need and to continue to ensure that those services are delivered in a way that allows Canada Post to be self-sustaining.
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Ms. Lori Idlout
  • May/19/22 10:42:19 p.m.
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Mr. Chair, does the minister agree that Canada needs to do more to reconcile with indigenous people in Canada?
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Hon. Filomena Tassi
  • May/19/22 10:42:27 p.m.
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Mr. Chair, absolutely, 100%.
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Ms. Lori Idlout
  • May/19/22 10:42:31 p.m.
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Mr. Chair, can the government instruct banks like First Nations Bank, TD Bank and Scotiabank to open branches in places like my riding?
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Hon. Filomena Tassi
  • May/19/22 10:42:47 p.m.
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Mr. Chair, I am happy to have conversations with the member with respect to the issues she is raising in the area of banking.
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Ms. Lori Idlout
  • May/19/22 10:43:02 p.m.
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Mr. Chair, does the minister think the government can instruct the banks I mentioned earlier to operate in indigenous communities and rural communities?
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Hon. Filomena Tassi
  • May/19/22 10:43:16 p.m.
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Mr. Chair, with respect to Canada Post, we are carrying on conversations and discussions. I have met with Canada Post. I have met with the workers union, CUPW, and we will continue to have conversations in order to assist Canada Post to get to a place where it is self-sustaining.
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Ms. Lori Idlout
  • May/19/22 10:43:35 p.m.
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Mr. Chair, will the minister work with me to at least develop a pilot project in Nunavut to check the viability of developing a postal banking system for the rest of Canada?
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Hon. Filomena Tassi
  • May/19/22 10:43:48 p.m.
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Mr. Chair, I would be honoured, and I welcome working with the member and listening to the concerns and issues she has. I look forward to that engagement.
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Ms. Lori Idlout
  • May/19/22 10:44:01 p.m.
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Mr. Chair, does the minister recall this quote from her mandate letter? Ensure that Canada Post provides a high quality of service that Canadians expect at a reasonable price and better reaches Canadians in rural and remote areas. You will be supported in this work by the Minister of Rural Economic Development.
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Hon. Filomena Tassi
  • May/19/22 10:44:23 p.m.
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Mr. Chair, yes. In fact, I have had conversations with the Minister of Rural Economic Development. I recognize that that is in my mandate letter. It is one of the reasons why we have conducted surveys in order to get information from the public to determine what services are important to them and assist Canada Post to deliver those services.
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Ms. Lori Idlout
  • May/19/22 10:44:42 p.m.
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Mr. Chair, I will quote another sentence in the mandate letter: You will also leverage the government's purchasing power to increase access to economic opportunity for a greater diversity of Canadians. Does the minister recall that as well?
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