Given the impact that any changes in mail services, particularly changes to rural post offices or rural mail delivery, would have upon us all both individually and to businesses I felt I had to share this.
This is from a letter published in the Orangeville (Ontario) Citizen newspaper written by the President of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers.
“Over the next few months, our Conservative federal government is conducting a review that will determine the future of universal, public postal service. This review is pretty much a secret review and it could be very bad news for rural communities.
Even though the Conservative government's review could change the very nature of our postal system, the Tories are not planning on holding public hearings or doing much to publicize their examination of Canada Post.
They have issued a media release asking for submissions by September 2, 2008. Their advisory panel is contacting "major stakeholders."
The fact that the government is not holding public hearings and is proceedings at breakneck pace with its review suggests that it is not really interested in hearing from the real owners and stakeholders of our post office - the public. “
The full text is available here
Comments
You now have less than two
You now have less than two weeks to comment upon the review, here is my submission to the panel …….
Attn. The Canada Post Corporation Strategic Review Advisory Panel.
info@cpcsr-esscp.gc.ca
In the terms of reference for this review it is stated that:-
“In the 1995 review, the Government established a set of requirements, including that Canada Post provide an affordable, universal postal service.”
Also that:-
“The Government has been increasingly looking to Canada Post to contribute to public policy objectives beyond the provision of affordable, universal postal service by placing restrictions on service rationalizations (e.g. moratorium on the closure of rural post offices) and establishing delivery standards (e.g. delivery to rural mailboxes).”
It seems clear that if our postal service is to remain “universal”, and in my view there must be a VERY pressing reason for it not to be so, then the moratorium on the closure of rural post offices must remain in place and rural delivery must continue to be part of the service. Postal service cannot be deemed universal if some citizens get “to the door” delivery (or within a short walking distance) whilst others are required to drive 5, 10 or more miles to get their mail. An added consideration in these days of energy conservation is the difference between one vehicle traveling a route covering hundreds of customers and hundreds of customers driving to get their mail!
In regard to Rural Post Offices the recent Senate Report on Rural Poverty made some very good suggestions and the panel should read and take note of the appropriate sections of that document. Specifically they recommend that “The committee recommends that the federal government work with provincial, territorial and municipal governments to identify ways in which a range of existing and new services might be delivered through existing rural infrastructure points such as rural post offices. (page 30)”
The panel should also take note of the commentary upon the difficulties faced by some in regard to rural transportation in that any further erosion of rural postal services would have a major impact upon some of our rural residents who are already facing some difficult challenges in this regard.
In short I believe that not only must the current level of service not be reduced (even if it must be subsidized to some extent in some areas) but that the opportunity to increase the usefulness and viability of both rural and urban post offices exists by providing further Government Services through these existing outlets.
I note that thus far in your list of individuals and organizations “consulted” there is no representation from the general public and that little has been done to make the public aware that this “review” is taking place so that they may submit their views. This in my view makes the work of the panel less than complete and thus the outcome suspect.
Each year I am presented
Each year I am presented with a $0 bill for my mailbox.
Every year it arrives alone. No terms and conditions are
included. I refused to sign it. Eventually I was given the terms.
In the interim much of my mail was held and then "found" in
the general delivery bin while more was reported returned
to sender.
Government mail services are being abused to send taxpayers
a comic book campaign of juvenile proportions. It's time Humpty
Dumpty had a great fall. I do not expect an M.P. to send me
pictures of all the geriatric birthday parties he attends, nor
am I required by law to choose Canada Post as the carrier of
my personal communication.
Thank you.
Great point about the impact
Great point about the impact of many people driving for their mail vs. one vehicle delivering. If I'm not mistaken this is currently the situation around Annan. I don't know how many people there have their mail delivered to their door, but if you spend a few minutes at the "post office" (which is actually a friends house), you'll notice a non-stop stream if folks picking up mail.